Cambodia Celebrates the 25th Anniversary of the Win-Win Policy
The Cambodian government on Dec. 29 held a ceremony to mark the 25th anniversary of the Win-Win Policy implementation at the Win-Win Monument in Phnom Penh, and also to launch three days of celebrations at the monument to welcome the new year 2024.
- By Romdoul Chetra
- December 29, 2023 6:35 PM
PHNOM PENH — The Cambodian government on Dec. 29 held a ceremony to mark the 25th anniversary of the Win-Win Policy implementation at the Win-Win Monument in Phnom Penh, and also to launch three days of celebrations at the monument to welcome the new year 2024.
During the ceremony, Prime Minister Hun Manet said “[t]he monument is an important document of Cambodia’s history of the past decades for the next generation to learn and understand the value of peace.”
The policy was officially launched on Dec. 29, 1998, by then Prime Minister Hun Sen, who now serves as the Cambodian People’s Party’s president and the head of the Supreme Privy Council. Shortly before the launch of the policy, Khmer Rouge leaders Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan had surrendered.
Even though they had signed the Paris Peace Agreement on Oct. 23, 1991, which put an end to the civil war between the Cambodian government forces and the Cambodian factions based in Thailand, the Khmer Rouge continued their attacks in some parts of the country after the 1993 national elections. Although many Khmer Rouge defected and went home over the years, it was only in December 1998 that an agreement was signed and that, with the surrender of these two leaders and Hun Sen’s policy, the conflict truly came to an end.
The win-win policy has been praised by CPP’s leaders, with Hun Sen viewing it as having played a major role to stop the conflict and end the Khmer Rouge.
In January 2022, the Cambodian government included Dec. 29 in the national calendar to celebrate the end of the country’s civil war. Workers, however, are not allowed to take the day off on that date.
Celebrations for the New Year
To mark 2024, three days of celebrations are held at the monument. This includes Khmer-made product and food fairs, concerts, as well as fireworks at the Win-Win Monument.
The celebration is held from Dec. 29 through Dec. 31, according to the Phnom Penh Capital Hall’s announcement on Dec. 27.
Traffic control and security are ensured for visitors’ safety, the announcement read. Big trucks including cement mixers, tankers, and tractor-trailers will not be allowed to use the road, passing the Prek Pnov Bridge to the National Road No. 6, until Dec. 31.
Meng Seavmey contributed to the story.
