Phnom Penh (FN), Oct. 21 – Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen posted on his Facebook a photo of the late king father Norodom Sihanouk and himself standing side by side in a car parade on the occasion of the late king’s return to Cambodia 30 years ago.

The photo was highlighted by the National Bank of Cambodia on a newly issued 30,000 riel banknote to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Paris Peace Accords and anniversary of the return of the late king.

“A photo highlighted on this new banknote has been highly acclaimed by the Cambodian people as a illustration of the bitter reality of Cambodia's history. However, only a small number of opposition groups have reacted and expressed negative views,” the premier wrote Thursday.

He advised those who negatively reacted to this photo to learn and understand the meaning clearly.

After several meetings between the late king father and the premier to reach the Paris Peace Accord on 23 October 1991, Samdech and other Cambodian officials warmly welcomed the return of the late king father from China’s Beijing to Cambodia on 14 November 1991. It was the late king’s first return after leaving Cambodia on 6 January 1979, before the Kampuchean United Front for the Salvation Army took control of Phnom Penh.

During the late king’s return, Cambodian citizens from all walk of life lined up on both sides of the road from the airports to the Royal Palace. In the photo, premier Hun Sen and the late king father stood side by side, raising their hands and waving happily to the crowds.

The achievement of the Paris Peace Accord and the return of the late king father to Cambodia was a great development in Cambodian politics and the desire of the Cambodian people for peace, but at that time, the dark era of Cambodia's political conflict has yet ended.
=FRESH NEWS