Hun Sen

Hun Sen - Prime Minister of Cambodia, Family and Facts

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Hun Sen's Personal Details

Hun Sen is the current Prime Minister of Cambodia who is known for his authoritarian regime in the country

InformationDetail
BirthdayAugust 5, 1952
NationalityCambodian
FamousLeaders, Political Leaders, Prime Ministers, Prime Minister of Cambodia
HobbiesGolf, Song writing
SpousesBun Rany
Known asSamdech Hun Sen
ChildrensHun Kamsot, Hun Mali, Hun Malis, Hun Mana, Hun Manet, Hun Mani, Hun Manit
Universities
  • Iowa Wesleyan College
  • California Southern University
  • National Academy of Public Administration
Birth PlaceStueng Trang District
Political IdeologyPolitical party-Cambodian People's Party
Height180
GenderMale
FatherHun Neang
MotherDee Yon
Net Worth$150 Million as of Jan 2017
Sun SignLeo
Born inStueng Trang District
Famous asPrime Minister of Cambodia

Hun Sen's photo

Who is Hun Sen?

With both supporters and detractors, politicians can be extremely polarizing figures. Among these, Hun Sen, the 34th and current Prime Minister of Cambodia, is perhaps one of the most polarizing figures on the political stage. Marking his 30th year in power last January, he is the country's longest serving head of government and one of the longest serving leaders in the world. His ascent to the most powerful political position in Cambodia is fraught with violence, corruption and scandal, counting him among some of the most infamous leaders on the world stage. His violent political path to Prime Minister began in his teenage years when he left his studies at a Buddhist monastery to become a member of the communist Khmer Rouge. Bright and ambitious, the young man quickly rose among the ranks. In his tenure as Prime Minister of Cambodia, he has proven to be intelligent, cunning and quite manipulative. Opponents to his rule have accused his regime of resorting to torture by using electroshock and hot irons on political prisoners of the former Khmer Rouge Battalion Commander. History has shown that Hun Sen will stop at nothing to maintain an iron grip on his position of power. To know more about his life and works read on

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Childhood & Early Life

Hun Sen was born on August 5, 1952 in Kampong Cham, a city northeast of Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh. His official birth name was Hun Bunal.

As a child, he attended a local primary school and worked in agriculture. In 1965, he left home to attend a Buddhist monastic school in Phnom Penh.

In 1969, a year before graduation, he abandoned his studies. He joined the Khmer Rouge a year later and changed his name to Hun Sen.

He is the third of seven children born to peasant farmers. One of his siblings died before he was born. His mother, Dee Yon, died from an illness in 1998 at age 79.

His father, Hun Neang, was a monk at a local vat before defrocking himself to join the French resistance. He died in July 12, 2013 at the age of 89 after battling health issues.

Career

In 1970, he joined the ‘Khmer Rouge’ after the Cambodian military ousted Prince Norodom Sihanouk. After just two weeks of training, he was appointed as platoon leader on April 30th.

In 1971, he became a member of the 'Communist Party of Kampuchea (CPK) Youth League.' From then on, he moved rapidly up the ranks and turned into one of the most prominent names of the party.

On April 16, 1975, he lost an eye in the battle for Phnom Penh. The ‘Khmer Rouge’ won and he was made Chief of Staff of an autonomous special regiment in the East Zone.

In a growing rift with ‘Pol Pot’, who demanded more self-destructive attacks on Vietnamese villages, he and other eastern zone leaders fled to Vietnam in 1977. They escaped internal purges in the ‘Khmer Rouge’.

On January 10, 1979, he became Foreign Minister in the Vietnamese-installed 'People's Republic of Kampuchea/State of Cambodia’ after the ‘Khmer Rouge’ regime was overthrown.

On January 14, 1985, he was elected Chairman of the 'Council of Ministers' and subsequently the Prime Minister. The former chairman Chan Sy’s death the previous month had left the position open and it gradually passed on to Hun Sen.

During the 1993 elections, he was outpolled by the 'Royalist Party' of Prince Norodom Ranariddh. Hun Sen refused to step down and, as a result, an agreement was implemented. He was named Second Prime Minister and the prince as First Prime Minister.

On July 1997, he launched the violent '1997 Cambodian Coup' in which he deposed Prince Ranariddh and replaced him with Ung Hout as first Prime Minister. Hun Sen won election the following year, again becoming Cambodia's sole Prime Minister.

On September 25, 2008, after winning the general elections, he was re-elected as Prime Minister for the next five-year term. In 2013, he declared his intention to rule Cambodia until he is 74. The decision stirred up dissent, as the opposition party also claimed to have won the election.

Following the national leader’s declaration stating his unwillingness to part with his authority, the ‘Cambodian National Rescue Party’ along with other protest groups organized peaceful rallies in Phnom Penh.

They demanded re-elections because allegedly the July 28, 2013 elections were unfair. The protests garnered the attention of United Nations which condemned Sen’s use of power to dissipate the peaceful protestors.

Major Works

Hun Sen was an essential figure in the '1991 Paris Peace Talks.' On October 23, 1991, the Cambodian factions of the 'Supreme National Council,' along with Vietnam and 15 member nations of the 'International Peace Conference' on Cambodia, signed the 'Paris Peace Agreement,' marking the official end of the 'Cambodian-Vietnamese War.'

Under his leadership, Cambodia became the 10th member of the 'Association of South-East Asian Nations' (ASEAN) in 1999. The organization promotes political and economic cooperation and regional stability.

Awards & Achievements

On December 02, 1996 the 'World Peace Academy' presented him with the 'World Peace Award.' He was bestowed three titles: ‘Human Cultural Asset’, ‘Roving Ambassador for Peace’, and ‘World Peace Congressman’.

On September 06, 2005 'Sri Chinmoy Centers International' presented him with its highest award, the 'U Thant Peace Award,' for his role in the progression of Cambodia and the entire 'ASEAN' nations.

Personal Life & Legacy

In 1975, he married Bun Rany, a public health official and director of a Khmer Rouge hospital. The couple has six children.

His eldest son, Manet, is a Lieutenant General in the 'Royal Cambodian Armed Forces.' His youngest child, Malis, was adopted.

In 1987, 'Amnesty International' accused him of torturing thousands of political prisoners. Iron bars and rubber hoses were among the tools used to accomplish the tasks.

He reportedly had an affair with actress Piseth Peaklica. In July 1999, the woman was gunned down as she shopped at a market in Phnom Penh. Rumors swirled that First Lady Bun Rany had ordered her assassination.

Net Worth

According to Brad Adams, Asia Director at 'Human Rights Watch,' a U.S. State Department official told him in 2002 that Hun Sen's estimated net worth was $500 million. The Prime Minister dislikes talking about his personal wealth.

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Hun Sen biography timelines

  • // 5th Aug 1952
    Hun Sen was born on August 5, 1952 in Kampong Cham, a city northeast of Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh. His official birth name was Hun Bunal.
  • // 1965
    As a child, he attended a local primary school and worked in agriculture. In 1965, he left home to attend a Buddhist monastic school in Phnom Penh.
  • // 1969
    In 1969, a year before graduation, he abandoned his studies. He joined the Khmer Rouge a year later and changed his name to Hun Sen.
  • // 1970
    In 1970, he joined the ‘Khmer Rouge’ after the Cambodian military ousted Prince Norodom Sihanouk. After just two weeks of training, he was appointed as platoon leader on April 30th.
  • // 1971
    In 1971, he became a member of the 'Communist Party of Kampuchea (CPK) Youth League.' From then on, he moved rapidly up the ranks and turned into one of the most prominent names of the party.
  • // 1975
    In 1975, he married Bun Rany, a public health official and director of a Khmer Rouge hospital. The couple has six children.
  • // 16th Apr 1975
    On April 16, 1975, he lost an eye in the battle for Phnom Penh. The ‘Khmer Rouge’ won and he was made Chief of Staff of an autonomous special regiment in the East Zone.
  • // 1977
    In a growing rift with ‘Pol Pot’, who demanded more self-destructive attacks on Vietnamese villages, he and other eastern zone leaders fled to Vietnam in 1977. They escaped internal purges in the ‘Khmer Rouge’.
  • // 10th Jan 1979
    On January 10, 1979, he became Foreign Minister in the Vietnamese-installed 'People's Republic of Kampuchea/State of Cambodia’ after the ‘Khmer Rouge’ regime was overthrown.
  • // 14th Jan 1985
    On January 14, 1985, he was elected Chairman of the 'Council of Ministers' and subsequently the Prime Minister. The former chairman Chan Sy’s death the previous month had left the position open and it gradually passed on to Hun Sen.
  • // 1987
    In 1987, 'Amnesty International' accused him of torturing thousands of political prisoners. Iron bars and rubber hoses were among the tools used to accomplish the tasks.
  • // 23rd Oct 1991
    Hun Sen was an essential figure in the '1991 Paris Peace Talks.' On October 23, 1991, the Cambodian factions of the 'Supreme National Council,' along with Vietnam and 15 member nations of the 'International Peace Conference' on Cambodia, signed the 'Paris Peace Agreement,' marking the official end of the 'Cambodian-Vietnamese War.'
  • // 1993
    During the 1993 elections, he was outpolled by the 'Royalist Party' of Prince Norodom Ranariddh. Hun Sen refused to step down and, as a result, an agreement was implemented. He was named Second Prime Minister and the prince as First Prime Minister.
  • // 2nd Dec 1996
    On December 02, 1996 the 'World Peace Academy' presented him with the 'World Peace Award.' He was bestowed three titles: ‘Human Cultural Asset’, ‘Roving Ambassador for Peace’, and ‘World Peace Congressman’.
  • // Jul 1997
    On July 1997, he launched the violent '1997 Cambodian Coup' in which he deposed Prince Ranariddh and replaced him with Ung Hout as first Prime Minister. Hun Sen won election the following year, again becoming Cambodia's sole Prime Minister.
  • // 1998
    He is the third of seven children born to peasant farmers. One of his siblings died before he was born. His mother, Dee Yon, died from an illness in 1998 at age 79.
  • // 1999
    Under his leadership, Cambodia became the 10th member of the 'Association of South-East Asian Nations' (ASEAN) in 1999. The organization promotes political and economic cooperation and regional stability.
  • // Jul 1999
    He reportedly had an affair with actress Piseth Peaklica. In July 1999, the woman was gunned down as she shopped at a market in Phnom Penh. Rumors swirled that First Lady Bun Rany had ordered her assassination.
  • // 2002
    According to Brad Adams, Asia Director at 'Human Rights Watch,' a U.S. State Department official told him in 2002 that Hun Sen's estimated net worth was $500 million. The Prime Minister dislikes talking about his personal wealth.
  • // 6th Sep 2005
    On September 06, 2005 'Sri Chinmoy Centers International' presented him with its highest award, the 'U Thant Peace Award,' for his role in the progression of Cambodia and the entire 'ASEAN' nations.
  • // 25th Sep 2008 To 2013
    On September 25, 2008, after winning the general elections, he was re-elected as Prime Minister for the next five-year term. In 2013, he declared his intention to rule Cambodia until he is 74. The decision stirred up dissent, as the opposition party also claimed to have won the election.
  • // 12th Jul 2013
    His father, Hun Neang, was a monk at a local vat before defrocking himself to join the French resistance. He died in July 12, 2013 at the age of 89 after battling health issues.
  • // 28th Jul 2013
    They demanded re-elections because allegedly the July 28, 2013 elections were unfair. The protests garnered the attention of United Nations which condemned Sen’s use of power to dissipate the peaceful protestors.

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Hun Sen's FAQ

  • What is Hun Sen birthday?

    Hun Sen was born at 1952-08-05

  • Where is Hun Sen's birth place?

    Hun Sen was born in Stueng Trang District

  • What is Hun Sen nationalities?

    Hun Sen's nationalities is Cambodian

  • What is Hun Sen hobbies?

    Hun Sen's hobbies is Golf, Song writing

  • Who is Hun Sen spouses?

    Hun Sen's spouses is Bun Rany

  • Who is Hun Sen childrens?

    Hun Sen's childrens is Hun Kamsot, Hun Mali, Hun Malis, Hun Mana, Hun Manet, Hun Mani, Hun Manit

  • What was Hun Sen universities?

    Hun Sen studied at Iowa Wesleyan College, California Southern University, National Academy of Public Administration

  • What is Hun Sen's political ideology?

    Hun Sen's political ideology is Political party-Cambodian People's Party

  • How tall is Hun Sen?

    Hun Sen's height is 180

  • Who is Hun Sen's father?

    Hun Sen's father is Hun Neang

  • Who is Hun Sen's mother?

    Hun Sen's mother is Dee Yon

  • What is Hun Sen's sun sign?

    Hun Sen is Leo

  • How famous is Hun Sen?

    Hun Sen is famouse as Prime Minister of Cambodia