Phnom Penh (FN), Oct. 21 – Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen recalled that he was wearing a bulletproof vest like a bodyguard to protect the late king father during the 14 November 1991 historical event, speaking in an exclusive interview with Fresh News CEO Lim Chea Vutha on Thursday.

As shown on a newly printed 30,000-riel banknote, the late king father Norodom Sihanouk and the premier stood side by side in a car parade on the occasion of the late king’s return to Cambodia 30 years ago in 1991.

“When he [the late king father] returned home on 14 November 1991, I was the head of government of the State of Cambodia while the late king was the president of the Supreme National Council (SNC). King father flew from China’s Beijing to Cambodia, and 30 minutes before the plane landing, I went to the plane’s bathroom to put on a bulletproof vest. After leaving the plane, I stand ready next to king father as a bodyguard. If anything happens, I will risk my life to protect him from the incidents,” the premier said.

"At that time, the late king did not know that I was wearing a bulletproof vest to protect him. It was not until two years later that I informed him about it," the premier added.

The premier further clarified that on that occasion, Samdech Hun Sen accompanied the late king father, while the premier’s spouse Bun Rany accompanied Queen Mother in separate cars.

On 18 October 2021, the National Bank of Cambodia issued a new 30,000-riel banknote (about USD 7,5) and allowed it for widely used throughout the Kingdom to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Paris Peace Accord (23 October 1991 - 23 October 2021) and the 30th anniversary of the homeland return of the Late King Father Norodom Sihanouk (14 November 1991 - 14 November 2021).
=FRESH NEWS