Phnom Penh (FN), Nov. 24 – Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen reflected on the turbulent period when Cambodia had yet to emerge from war, criticising the withdrawal of the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) after spending over USD 2 billion, leaving the country in conflict.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen spoke on Sunday (Nov. 24) during the opening of the 11th Plenary Session of the International Parliament for Tolerance and Peace (IPTP) at Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel.

Samdech Techo acknowledged the positive contributions of UNTAC but emphasised that its mission remained incomplete. Despite the Paris Peace Agreement, the Khmer Rouge failed to comply, refusing to lay down arms or participate in the democratic process. The United Nations was unable to enforce this critical aspect, leading to continued conflict.

On the occasion, Samdech Techo Hun Sen stated that complete peace, which is the main goal of the agreement, has not been achieved, even after the election to form the Royal Government in 1993. The civil war persisted, with Cambodia divided into territories controlled by the Royal Government and the Khmer Rouge.

At the same time, Samdech Techo Hun Sen explained that while UNTAC failed to resolve the conflict, civil war broke out along the borders. In 1996, he initiated a win-win policy that united and integrated all parties into the Royal Government. For the first time in history, this policy brought an end to nearly three decades of war without the use of a single bullet.
=FRESH NEWS