Sihanoukville (FN), Mar. 26 – Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet stated that Cambodia’s territorial defence follows a clear plan, not impulsive decisions, and that military force is not the preferred option. He highlighted the harsh reality of war, stating that it is a battlefield where young people—who neither know nor hate each other—are forced to kill one another due to the decisions of older politicians who do know and dislike each other.
The premier spoke on Wednesday (Mar. 26) at the official inauguration of the new school building, teachers' dormitory, and management facility at Hun Sen Veal Rehn High School.
Samdech Thipadei underscored, “I recently came across a slogan that deeply resonated with me 'War is a place where the young kill one another without knowing or hating each other, because of the decision of old people who know and hate each other.' These politicians initiate wars, yet they do not fight themselves. Instead, they send young soldiers—who have no personal conflict—to the battlefield.”
Samdech Thipadei continued, “War is a serious political decision. This is why the Royal Government, under the leadership of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), remains committed to resolving conflicts peacefully while firmly protecting our sovereignty. We employ all legal and technical measures to prevent unnecessary bloodshed.”
“However, if our territorial integrity is threatened, we are fully prepared to defend our nation, including through military means if necessary. Politicians may engage in disputes, but it is our soldiers who pay the price—young men, unaware of the deeper political motives, are sent to raise weapons against one another. This is the harsh reality of war, one that leaves families devastated, turning wives into widows and children into orphans. War is never easy.”
All these factors led Prime Minister Hun Manet to affirm that we must always advocate for peace. He compared peace to air—something we rely on every day without noticing, yet only realize its true value when it is no longer there. Similarly, peace is most precious when it is lost.
On the occasion, Samdech Thipadei underlined the need to work together to create opportunities for people to enjoy the benefits of peace—to live in security and confidence, to pursue education, to graduate, and to build a future free from the fear of war.
=FRESH NEWS
