Phnom penh: Cambodia's Acting Head of State, Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, has stated that his over-four-decades-long involvement in national leadership has focused on promoting ethnic and religious harmony, which has helped the country avoid sectarian conflict.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, writing on his official social media platforms, Samdech Techo Hun Sen, the former Prime Minister, addressed recent public discussions concerning remarks made by a woman identified as Kanitha. These remarks raised concerns as she suggested that the United States could arrest Cambodian Muslims who practice an Iranian-style interpretation of Islam in Cambodia.
Samdech Techo Hun Sen expressed his initial reluctance to comment but decided to intervene due to concerns about the issue's potential escalation. He emphasized that not addressing the matter could cause it to grow larger, as the remarks posed a threat against citizens of a sovereign state. He noted that such language is unlikely to be used even by the U.S. government itself.
He warned that these remarks could incite divisions within Islam and among Cambodia's various religious communities. He highlighted the fear of religious war, stating that while armed conflict is alarming, religious war is even more so.
Samdech Techo Hun Sen further mentioned that throughout his more than 47 years of political leadership in Cambodia, he has consistently worked to promote harmony among ethnic groups and religions, thereby helping to ensure that the country remains free of ethnic and religious conflict.