Phnom Penh (FN), Mar. 21 – Cambodian Senate President, Samdech Techo Hun Sen recalled the history of conferring the rank of five-star general following the end of the war in Cambodia.

Samdech Techo presided over a ceremony conferring the five-star general rank on former Defence Minister Tea Banh and former Minister of Inspection Men Sam An on Friday (Mar. 21).

Samdech Techo recounted that during the 1993 negotiations to establish an interim government, the late king father conferred the five-star general rank on three dignitaries including Samdech Techo Hun Sen himself, Samdech Chea Sim, and Samdech Heng Samrin. At the time, the late king father already held the rank of five-star general and served as co-prime minister alongside Samdech Techo.

Samdech Techo noted that the late king father had issued royal decrees in French, including the decree granting his title. However, in 1994, a compromise was reached to reduce the number of stars per individual—five-star generals were reduced to four stars, and those with four stars were reduced to three, eventually decreasing each rank by one star.

Samdech Techo underscored, “So when did I regain my five stars? It was in 2007 when the king surprised me twice. First, at a time when I had not yet received the title of ‘Samdech,’ the king summoned senior monks to discuss the conferment of honorary titles. As a result, titles such as Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo, Samdech Thamma Pothisal, and Samdech Ponhea Chakrei were granted. At that time, the title only included ‘Maha,’ but the king added ‘Akka Maha.’”

Samdech Techo further recalled that the reinstatement of his five-star General rank in 2007 was entirely a royal bestowment, not something he had requested. However, at that time, the title was not extended to Samdech Krom Preah Norodom Ranariddh. He remained a four-star general due to the prior reduction and had not yet been promoted back.

Samdech Techo continued that within the army, Samdech Krom Preah held the designation number 001, while Samdech Techo was assigned 002.
=FRESH NEWS