Senate president Hun Sen has hit back at critics who questioned Cambodia’s decision to celebrate Khmer New Year while Thai troops continue to occupy parts of the Kingdom’s territory.

In a social media post on 14 April, the first day of the traditional festival, Hun Sen argued that national life should not grind to a halt because of border disputes. “A wound on one little finger should not make the entire body disabled,” he wrote, adding that the country must not be paralysed by hardship in one area.

He acknowledged the difficulties faced by armed forces and displaced families along the frontier, but insisted they too had been supported so they could join in the celebrations.

“For the other 17 million people, should we expect them to just cry and halt their socio-economic activities? Should they be closing markets, closing businesses, closing banks, closing factories, closing farms, closing schools?” he asked.

Opposition groups had accused the government of ignoring the plight of border communities by staging entertainment events during the holiday. Some compared Cambodians to grasshoppers who sing and play, while likening Thais to ants who work hard to gather food.

Hun Sen dismissed such criticism as extremist, saying the joyful activities of millions of Cambodians amounted to a “slap in the face” to those who opposed the celebrations. He stressed that the absence of a Covid-19 outbreak, unlike in 2020, made it all the more important for people to enjoy the New Year.

The remarks underline Hun Sen’s determination to project resilience and unity, even as Cambodia continues to grapple with territorial disputes and political divisions.

-2026-04-15

4 hours ago, geovalin said:

For the other 17 million people, should we expect them to just cry and halt their socio-economic activities? Should they be closing markets, closing businesses, closing banks, closing factories, closing farms, closing schools?” he asked.

Why not? You've done it before with your mate Pol Pot.