Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - ‘No forgiveness’ for those who threaten peace: PM

‘No forgiveness’ for those who threaten peace: PM

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
Prime Minister Hun Sen presides over a graduation ceremony for nearly 2,000 students in Phnom Penh on March 6. AKP

‘No forgiveness’ for those who threaten peace: PM

Prime Minister Hun Sen has reaffirmed that Cambodia will not forgive anyone – whether foreign or Cambodian – who threatens the Kingdom’s peace through activities that compromise its independence or sovereignty.

The warning followed comments by several western countries about the 27-year prison term handed down to former opposition party leader Kem Sokha for conspiring with foreign powers to overthrow the government.

“We will not forgive anyone, either Cambodian or foreign, who uses the pretext of democracy or human rights to carry out activities against our independence and sovereignty, as this could lead us back to civil war,” he said while presiding over a March 6 graduation ceremony for students from the Institute of New Khmer Generation.

“I understand that some people based outside of Cambodia are sharing their concerns. [But] I believe they should pay closer attention to my concerns. Cambodia came very close to being lost to the flame of war in the past, largely due to the uncaring influence of foreign powers,” he stressed.

Hun Sen recalled his efforts to bring an end to the civil war, initially through talks with then-prince Norodom Sihanouk in France in the late 1980s.

On March 5, the premier posted a video about his press conference that followed his meeting with Prince Sihanouk. In the video, Hun Sen says that talks between Khmer and Khmer could find a solution for Cambodia, appealing to several different warring factions to come to the negotiating table.

On March 6, he elaborated on the video: “Foreigners did not fight and die alongside Khmer patriots – they fled and left us behind. Now that there is peace, they are prepared to express their concerns on our behalf. [But] when there was war, they were nowhere to be seen,” he said.

Without naming the object of his criticism, Hun Sen referred to a country that supported Marshall Lon Nol’s coup against Prince Sihanouk in 1970, noting that the coup led directly to the escalation of the civil war, and the rise of the Khmer Rouge.

“If you can remember supporting the Lon Nol military coup which caused civil war in Cambodia, you need to stop pretending to talk about democracy. If you supported the Khmer Rouge at the UN for 12 years, then you should just stop talking completely,” he said.

He highlighted the fact that several countries have expressed concerns about the development of the Kingdom’s Ream Naval Base, despite the base being thousands of kilometres from their own territory.

“Interestingly, they have never expressed any concern about the security of Cambodia, including the threat of a possible colour revolution,” he said.

He said he hoped that no foreigners were fuelling the fire by supporting any group that tried to carry out a colour revolution, warning that such action could shatter the Kingdom’s hard-fought peace and start another war.

“How many lives were lost in the search for peace? How many people live with disabilities from past wars? We must maintain the peace at all costs,” he said.

MOST VIEWED

  • 12th Cambodia int’l film festival to see return of Hollywood star

    Phnom Penh is set to come alive with the magic of cinema as the highly anticipated 12th Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF) takes centre stage. Boasting an impressive line-up of 188 films from 23 countries, including captivating shorts, feature films, documentaries and animation, the festival promises an

  • Brawl marrs football final as Indonesian take gold in seven goal thriller

    The Indonesian men's U22 men national football team were crowned champions of the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia, defeating Thailand 5-2 in extra time on May 16 at Olympic National Stadium in Phnom Penh. The match was marred by an ugly incident that occured in the 91

  • Bareknuckle champion wants Kun Khmer fighter

    Dave Leduc, who is the current openweight Lethwei boxing champion in Myanmar, has announced that he will travel to Cambodia this year to challenge SEA Games gold medallist Prum Samnang any time that is convenient, after their planned match later this month in Slovakia was

  • Candlelight Party disqualified from July general election

    The National Election Committee (NEC) has disqualified the Candlelight Party (CP) from contesting the upcoming general election, citing a lack of valid documentation. NEC spokesman Khorn Keomono said the CP failed to fulfil one of the three main requirements: including original documentation proving their registration

  • Thong Khon calls for orderly SEA Games closing ceremony

    Thong Khon, Minister of Tourism and permanent vice-president of the Cambodia SEA Games Organising Committee (CAMSOC), calls on all people who have received tickets to the May 17 closing ceremony of the biennial multi-sports extravaganza at the Morodok Techo National Stadium to ensure that the event

  • 1.4 billion dollar Phnom Penh-Bavet expressway due in four years

    The Government, through the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, has officially signed a public-private partnership agreement with a private company for the construction of a Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway project that will connect the capital to Svay Rieng province. The budget for the project is