National
• 1 hour ago• Lim_Rothanaksambath
PM Hun Manet: Peace Is Cambodia's Breath, Border Conflict Threatens It
Phnom Penh— Sept. 21, 2026: Prime Minister Hun Manet used his International Peace Day message to warn that Cambodia's hard-won peace is under threat from the conflict along the Thai border, and to call for a peaceful, law-based resolution.
"Peace is the breath of life for Cambodia," the Prime Minister said. "This peace is what gave our country the golden opportunity to rebuild, reduce poverty, develop infrastructure, and integrate more deeply into the region and the world." He noted that International Peace Day, observed each Sept. 21 since the United Nations designated it in 2001, is an occasion to honour those who sacrificed for peace, and he expressed deep gratitude to the soldiers and armed forces who gave their lives protecting the nation.
The Prime Minister recounted Cambodia's long road to peace, beginning with independence in 1953, followed by civil war and the Khmer Rouge regime that killed more than 3 million people and destroyed the country's social, cultural and economic foundations. The victory of Jan. 7, 1979, ended that regime, but conflict continued until the 1991 peace agreement and UN peacekeeping operations. It was the "win-win policy" of former Prime Minister Hun Sen, he said, that fully ended nearly three decades of civil war in 1998 — achieving complete peace and national unity for the first time in more than 500 years of Cambodian history.
That peace, he warned, is now threatened by war along the Cambodia-Thailand border, which has claimed lives, disrupted communities and left thousands of families unable to return to their homes. The Prime Minister renewed Cambodia's call for Thailand to honour the commitments both sides have agreed to, resolve border disputes peacefully based on international law, reduce tensions and restore peace along the frontier, so that the peoples of both countries can live together harmoniously as good neighbours. He stressed that Cambodia remains firmly committed to sovereignty, equality and the peaceful settlement of disputes without the use of force, and noted that the country's bitter historical experience shows that international law alone cannot guarantee peace without genuine political will and real implementation.
The Prime Minister also highlighted Cambodia's contribution to global peace, noting that since 2006 the Kingdom has deployed 10,912 peacekeepers, including 1,082 women, to UN missions in 10 countries, among them Chad, Sudan, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, Lebanon, Cyprus, Syria, Mali, Yemen and Congo. Despite external pressures, he said, Cambodia has maintained macroeconomic stability, with economic growth projected at 4.1 percent in 2026 — though he stressed that growth alone is not the final goal, and that what the government wants is for that growth to translate directly into jobs, higher incomes, real skills development and better public services for all citizens.
Looking ahead, the Prime Minister noted that in mid-November Cambodia will host the 20th Francophonie Summit under the theme "Together Continuing to Build Peace for Prosperity and Long-Term Stability," bringing leaders of 93 member states to Phnom Penh to discuss reducing geopolitical tensions and strengthening multilateral cooperation for lasting peace. He closed by wishing all Cambodians the four Buddhist blessings of longevity, beauty, happiness and strength.
Sources:
Royal Government of Cambodia
Reported by The Khmer Daily Network
"Peace is the breath of life for Cambodia," the Prime Minister said. "This peace is what gave our country the golden opportunity to rebuild, reduce poverty, develop infrastructure, and integrate more deeply into the region and the world." He noted that International Peace Day, observed each Sept. 21 since the United Nations designated it in 2001, is an occasion to honour those who sacrificed for peace, and he expressed deep gratitude to the soldiers and armed forces who gave their lives protecting the nation.
The Prime Minister recounted Cambodia's long road to peace, beginning with independence in 1953, followed by civil war and the Khmer Rouge regime that killed more than 3 million people and destroyed the country's social, cultural and economic foundations. The victory of Jan. 7, 1979, ended that regime, but conflict continued until the 1991 peace agreement and UN peacekeeping operations. It was the "win-win policy" of former Prime Minister Hun Sen, he said, that fully ended nearly three decades of civil war in 1998 — achieving complete peace and national unity for the first time in more than 500 years of Cambodian history.
That peace, he warned, is now threatened by war along the Cambodia-Thailand border, which has claimed lives, disrupted communities and left thousands of families unable to return to their homes. The Prime Minister renewed Cambodia's call for Thailand to honour the commitments both sides have agreed to, resolve border disputes peacefully based on international law, reduce tensions and restore peace along the frontier, so that the peoples of both countries can live together harmoniously as good neighbours. He stressed that Cambodia remains firmly committed to sovereignty, equality and the peaceful settlement of disputes without the use of force, and noted that the country's bitter historical experience shows that international law alone cannot guarantee peace without genuine political will and real implementation.
The Prime Minister also highlighted Cambodia's contribution to global peace, noting that since 2006 the Kingdom has deployed 10,912 peacekeepers, including 1,082 women, to UN missions in 10 countries, among them Chad, Sudan, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, Lebanon, Cyprus, Syria, Mali, Yemen and Congo. Despite external pressures, he said, Cambodia has maintained macroeconomic stability, with economic growth projected at 4.1 percent in 2026 — though he stressed that growth alone is not the final goal, and that what the government wants is for that growth to translate directly into jobs, higher incomes, real skills development and better public services for all citizens.
Looking ahead, the Prime Minister noted that in mid-November Cambodia will host the 20th Francophonie Summit under the theme "Together Continuing to Build Peace for Prosperity and Long-Term Stability," bringing leaders of 93 member states to Phnom Penh to discuss reducing geopolitical tensions and strengthening multilateral cooperation for lasting peace. He closed by wishing all Cambodians the four Buddhist blessings of longevity, beauty, happiness and strength.
Sources:
Royal Government of Cambodia
Reported by The Khmer Daily Network
