(Dili): Cambodian Senate President, Samdech Techo Hun Sen highlighted the exceptional contributions of Samdech Pichey Sena Tea Banh, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence, in the implementation of the Win-win Policy, an effort that led to the complete resolution of Cambodia's civil war. Samdech Techo likened having Tea Banh by his side to having an entire military division at his command.

The Win-win Policy, designed to extinguish the flames of war in Cambodia, was launched on 11 February 1996, and was fully realized on 29 December 1998.

Samdech Techo spoke on Friday (May 9) during a keynote address on "Lessons from Samdech Techo Hun Sen: Cambodia’s Journey from Genocide and Poverty to Freedom and Development” in Dili, Timor-Leste.

Samdech Techo also expressed great satisfaction that those tasked with carrying out the Win-win Policy, which he initiated to end Cambodia’s civil war, a feat unprecedented in the nation's 500-year history, had fulfilled their responsibilities with excellence.

Samdech Techo underscored, “There was a former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence, Samdech Pichey Sena Tea Banh, who served in that role under my leadership for more than 35 of my 38 years as prime minister. Many of you may know him. Today, his son has succeeded him as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence. Having a general like him by my side was like having a whole military division with me.”

Samdech Techo underlined that Samdech Pichey Sena Tea Banh played a pivotal role in carrying out and leading the implementation of the Win-win Policy following his own strategic direction. He noted that even the slightest misstep in the process could have rendered all efforts to end the civil war futile.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen further noted that the successful implementation of the policy required individuals of honesty and integrity to build trust with opposing factions. This trust helped bring the remaining armed groups into cooperation with the government. Therefore, the government had to invest in infrastructure, roads, bridges, irrigation canals, schools, and hospitals, in areas that agreed to reintegrate, ensuring equality and inclusivity.

On the occasion, Samdech Techo warned that without combining political and administrative reintegration with tangible development including economic and social improvements and infrastructure connectivity, the Win-win Policy could not have achieved its goals.

Samdech Techo added that for him and the Cambodian people, peace is invaluable and must be preserved at all costs. While starting a war is easy, he said, the pursuit and maintenance of long-lasting peace is an extraordinarily difficult challenge.
=FRESH NEWS