(Phnom Penh): On Friday (Jul. 4), Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet met Venerable Such, a monk residing in Thailand who has recently faced strong opposition from Thai citizens.

Venerable Such lives in a region of Thailand that was historically part of ancient Khmer empire. Both he and a group of Thai nationals, referred to by Cambodians as "Khmer Leu" (Upper Khmer), currently live near the Cambodian border and are fluent in the Khmer language.

During border tensions between Cambodia and Thailand, Venerable Such mentioned the Khmer ancestral origins of many residents in the region, highlighting that numerous Thai citizens in provinces such as Surin, Buriram, and Sisaket are of Khmer descent.

Those historical truths have triggered outrage among Thai residents living in areas that were formerly Cambodian territory. As a result, they have discriminated against the monk and barred his re-entry into Thailand.

Prime Minister Hun Manet officially accepted Venerable Monk Such's request and granted him permission to reside in Cambodia. The monk, who had been in Canada, returned to Cambodia on 2 July 2025.

Venerable Such expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the warm welcome and granted permission by both Prime Minister Hun Manet and former Prime Minister Hun Sen to remain in Cambodia as a Cambodian citizen.
=FRESH NEWS