Hun Sen on France 24: " I don't want to imitate Norodom Sihanouk

In an interview given to our colleagues on France 24, on 26 June, Prime minister Hun Sen touched upon several sensitive topics. From his political longevity to former King Norodom Sihanouk, and passing through the KR trial, the Kingdom’s Strongman gave out good and bad points.Relaxed and smiling, but firm on his position, Hun Sen reminded first about his political adversaries: "Close to the election, political parties increase their criticisms, therefore, I decided to cut all relationships."Regarding his (political) longevity, Hun Sen insisted on the pairing of himself and the CPP: "If the party is not solid, I wouldn’t be here today. Our destinies are linked…" Bringing up the ideological evolution of communism to "reality," Hun Sen assured that he will not be too old when he will relinquish power.

That being said, he nailed down his detractors. Speaking about himself using the third person, Hun Sen declared: "They are scared of Hun Sen. As long as Hun Sen will remain in politics, they know that they are in a deadlock."However, his most virulent attack was reserved to the former King: "I want to make myself clear on one point: I do not want to imitate Norodom Sihanouk. His era was the 60s. Me, I live in the 21st century.

If I were Sihanouk, I would order the shutdown of all opposition parties, just like when he was in power. There wouldn’t even be any election in a few weeks because there would be only one party…."When asked about what will remain of Hun Sen in historical books? He replied without hesitation: "The greatest pride for Hun Sen: his CPP and the nation, it’s the end of civil war and the dismantling of the KR."On the subject of the former Polpotists, Hun Sen said that the accusation that he would have delayed the KR trial is "unfair." "If I was really against it, do you think it could see the daylight? In Cambodia, if there is no Hun Sen’s signature, things cannot be done," he pummeled.

He said to be "very concerned" that those accused who are "all very old" would "die before being tried." That’s the reason why he wants "the trial to speed up," before concluding by a latest cutting remark: "But, maybe the tribunal officials have their own reasons to delay the trial."