Cambodia’s Prime Minister, Hun Sen, has served the country since 1985. And recently, he thanked Christians for their contributions to Cambodia.
Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen
Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen is the longest-serving PM in Cambodia and one of the longest-serving officials in the whole world. He grew up practicing Buddhism and was schooled by Buddhist monks in Phnom Penh, according to BBC News.
Nonetheless, despite his religious roots, Prime Minister Hun Sen advocates for religious freedom in Cambodia. He believes that this freedom will bring harmony to the nation. He spoke at a ceremony commemorating Cambodia’s 100th Gospel Celebration (1923-2023), and said that the government is all for combating religious discrimination.
Christians’ Contributions to Cambodia
It is no secret that in some parts of the world, Christians face extreme discrimination and persecution, sometimes to the point of death. Rarely do we hear leaders like Prime Minister Hun Sen advocate for religious freedom in the name of unity and harmony.
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Christianity is a minority religion in Cambodia. According to the Embassy of Cambodia dot Org, 80% of the population practice Theravada Buddhism, 1% practices Christianity, and the remaining is a combination of Islam, atheism, or animism.
PM Hun Sen [@hunsencambodia]. Instagram, 29 March 2019, https://www.instagram.com/p/BvlByREFB7G/
He even said, “Because the Kingdom has found peace, the faithful have the opportunity to gather and exchange points of view, share good experiences, and strengthen their cooperation.”
“This gathering contributes to upholding Christian harmony in Cambodia and maintains political stability and public order while offering reassurance to its attendees, both mentally and spiritually,” he added.
It is moments like this that Christians indeed show that they are the salt and light of the world, as they should be. Jesus mandated His followers to “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” in Matthew 5:16.
Cambodia’s Prime Minister affirmed this verse when he said that Christians “are an inspiration not just for Cambodia, but for the region and the wider world.”
Let us give all the glory to God!
Header image: PM Hun Sen [@hunsencambodia]. Instagram, 16 April 2019, https://www.instagram.com/p/BwUlS4Yl2d2/
Reference: The Star