Phnom Penh (FN), May 22 – Cambodian Senate President, Samdech Techo Hun Sen recalled the past on December 1998 when he brought leaders of the Khmer Rouge, namely Nuon Chea, Khieu Samphan and Ieng Sary, to his house. At that time, Samdech Techo conveyed three critical messages to citizens and the international community.

Samdech Techo spoke on Wednesday (May 22) at the closing of the conference on the “Future of Cambodia Without Genocide” at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC).

"I wanted to convey three messages when I sent a helicopter to bring Khieu Samphan, Nuon Chea, and other leaders. Khieu Samphan visited my house with his family. First, I wanted to assure citizens that the war was over, as the Khmer Rouge leaders were visiting the Prime Minister’s house. Second, I aimed to signal to the remaining Khmer Rouge soldiers to end the fighting, as their leaders had surrendered. Lastly, I wanted to inform the international community that it was safe to visit and invest in Cambodia because the war had ended,” Samdech Techo underscored.

On the occasion, Samdech Techo noted the unprecedented nature of a leader from one side of a conflict visiting the home of a leader from the opposing side, but for Cambodia, this became a reality.
=FRESH NEWS