Vancouver Sun
No one ever accused Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen of being a modest man. He has run Cambodia since 1985 when, at age 32, he was installed as prime minister by invading Vietnamese forces. He negotiated the transition to multi-party democracy in 1993 by making it clear to everyone that unless he was prime minister there would be civil war. Cambodia's political elite has decided not to take that risk. On the occasions when Hun Sen and his Cambodian People's Party did not win elections, it has been seen as safer to keep him in power anyway. But last week, Hun Sen announced the end of his reign is in sight. He intends to remain in power another 15 years and retire in 2028 when he is in his mid-70s, the age at which Vietnamese and Chinese leaders usually retire.
jmanthorpe@vancouversun.com
No one ever accused Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen of being a modest man. He has run Cambodia since 1985 when, at age 32, he was installed as prime minister by invading Vietnamese forces. He negotiated the transition to multi-party democracy in 1993 by making it clear to everyone that unless he was prime minister there would be civil war. Cambodia's political elite has decided not to take that risk. On the occasions when Hun Sen and his Cambodian People's Party did not win elections, it has been seen as safer to keep him in power anyway. But last week, Hun Sen announced the end of his reign is in sight. He intends to remain in power another 15 years and retire in 2028 when he is in his mid-70s, the age at which Vietnamese and Chinese leaders usually retire.
jmanthorpe@vancouversun.com
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