In August 2023, Hun Sen, then 71, resigned as prime minister of Cambodia and named his son, Hun Manet, to the post. He had been in power for 38 years, having begun ruling in 1985. Because he remains the president of the Cambodian People’s Party, Hun Sen is expected to continue wielding substantial power. Moreover, on April 3, 2024, he was elected president of the senate.
The Hun family, one of the world’s most enduring political dynasty, have clung to power for decades by eliminating any opposition that ever posed a threat to their reign. They are supported by relatives and loyalists who hold key positions in all major sectors of the state, including various ministries, the military, the police and even the media and charitable organizations. They secure the regime’s longevity through propaganda, political donations and the use of force. This system, which eliminates any separation between the executive, judicial and legislative branches, serves the ruling oligarchy well.
The next general election will take place in 2028.
Over the past decade, in an effort to silence all dissent in the country, a series of draconian laws have been enacted or are awaiting passage. This has facilitated the arresting of members of the political opposition, trade unionists, environmentalists and human rights defenders.
Meanwhile, the government continues granting mining concessions and land concessions for agricultural and food industry operations. This causes significant conflicts with the thousands of vulnerable people, mostly small-scale farmers, who are displaced by these projects.
Cambodia was one of the first Asian countries where Development and Peace ― Caritas Canada began working. In 1980, following the Vietnam War and the Khmer Rouge regime, a consortium of CIDSE members from Australia, Canada, Europe and New Zealand established a Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam-Indochina Program (CIDSE-CLV) with an office in Phnom Penh. By 2005, that office was no longer needed because a local Cambodian organization had taken over the country’s programming.
Development and Peace ― Caritas Canada currently partners with various Cambodian organizations, with a programmatic focus on democracy and citizen participation. Our partners support the mobilization of youths, women, and communities, mainly from minority groups including peasant and Indigenous communities and persons with disabilities.
Examples of our partners’ activities include:
We will continue working with the most marginalized populations to create robust and sustainable development structures with the participation of women. With over 65 per cent of Cambodians being under 30, we will also continue working with our partners to help young people develop critical thinking skills; to empower them to exercise their civil and political rights; and to equip them for social action in their communities.
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