(Dili): Cambodian Senate President, Samdech Techo Hun Sen warned against actions that could lead to internal division and urged the public not to “burn down their own house to cook someone else’s egg”—a metaphor warning against self-destruction for the benefit of others.

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.

“I can say with certainty that had I not been there, war would have erupted once more in Cambodia because of the United Nations. I say this confidently, as they made accusations and issued sweeping indictments—even summoning our late King Father Norodom Sihanouk to court,” Samdech Techo underscored.

He recounted that, during that period, he told the former UN secretary general that he would rather see the tribunal collapse than allow the country to fall back into conflict. “What would we choose—indicting 10 or 20 people, or provoking a war that could claim tens of thousands of lives?”

He went on to explain that even Cambodia’s revered former monarch, hailed as the Father of the Nation, had not been spared from accusations. Numerous Cambodian leaders were targeted for prosecution, including former Khmer Rouge soldiers. In response to this, Samdech Techo stated firmly: “Absolutely not,” which drew criticism for allegedly disrespecting the court.

Samdech Techo responded to the criticism by saying: “Let me be clear. I helped draft this law with you. My National Assembly passed it. Why do you claim I have no right to protect my nation? Under my leadership, Cambodia will not allow you to act as you please. In the end, justice was served, and peace has been maintained to this day. Be cautious of any actions that may lead to internal destruction. Do not burn your own house just to boil someone else’s egg. I will not destroy my own country to cook an egg for another.”
=FRESH NEWS