Hun Sen considers his three sons as 'strategic advisors'

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has absolute trust in his three sons, of whom his eldest son Hun Manet was chosen to succeed him.

"I have 10 advisers around me, but my three sons are my closest strategic advisers. We often exchange views and analyze everything together," Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen revealed at an event in 2021, referring to his three "noble sons" Hun Manet, Hun Manith and Hun Many.

On July 26, Hun Sen announced his resignation as Prime Minister and said that his son Hun Manet would be appointed as the new government leader in about three weeks. This was long anticipated, as Hun Sen has repeatedly praised his eldest son's leadership ability.

On the night Hun Manet was born on October 20, 1977, in Koh Thmar village in Kampong Cham province, Cambodia, Mr. Hun Sen said he saw "a streak of light flying over the roof" and believed this was a sign of his bright future.

After graduating from high school, Manet joined the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) in 1995, and was sent to study at the prestigious West Point Military Academy in the United States. In May 1999, he became the first Cambodian to graduate from West Point and one of seven foreign students to graduate that year.

After returning to Cambodia, Manet was promoted to lieutenant in the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and was quickly promoted to high positions in the army. In addition to his military education, he also studied economics and received a master's degree from New York University in 2002, and a doctorate from the University of Bristol in 2008.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (center) with his two sons Hun Manet (left) and Hun Many. Photo: Facebook/ Hun Many

In 2011, he was promoted to major general, promoted to lieutenant general two years later and to general in 2018, serving as army commander and deputy commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF). He also holds the dual responsibilities of commanding the Prime Minister's bodyguard unit and leading the Ministry of National Defense's counter-terrorism department.

During the 2008-2011 standoff between Cambodia and Thailand over the Preah Vihear temple, Hun Mante played a prominent role in negotiating an end to the standoff. He was also actively involved in the RCAF reform process, which focused on young officers and soldiers.

In addition to his important military positions, Hun Manet has also risen rapidly in the political system. In December 2018, he was elected to the standing committee of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP). In 2020, he was promoted from deputy secretary to secretary of the CPP Central Youth Union.

General Hun Manet is also considered a popular figure among Cambodian youth. He has built the image of a highly educated politician who always behaves moderately and is approachable.

Manet heads the Samdech Techo Hun Sen Scholarship Committee, which provides scholarships to thousands of young Cambodians to study at university. He is also chairman of the board of directors of the Samdech Techo Volunteer Doctors Association, which mobilizes thousands of medical staff and volunteers to provide free health care to rural residents. He also promotes humanitarian activities to help orphans and disabled children.

Hun Manet is married to Pich Chanmony, daughter of Pich Sophoan, former head of the Ministry of Labor.

Prime Minister Hun Sen has repeatedly affirmed that his son Hun Manet is "worthy" and fully capable of leading the government thanks to his own abilities.

Unlike his eldest brother, Hun Manith, the second son in the Cambodian Prime Minister's family, is considered by observers to have an introverted personality. Manith, born on October 17, 1981, is a lieutenant general in the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) and commander of the General Department of Intelligence of the Cambodian Ministry of National Defense.

Manith also studied abroad and rose through the ranks of the armed forces from 2009, before being transferred to military intelligence and becoming Director General in 2017.

Hun Manith also held positions in the Committee for Resolving Protests and Strikes, the Committee for Resolving Land Disputes, the Prime Minister's Office, and the CPP Central Supervisory Committee. In a rare 2016 interview with Khmer Times , Hun Manith was described by the newspaper as "one of the most powerful men in Cambodia".

Manith has made fewer public appearances than other family members. His wife is Hok Chendavy, daughter of former national police chief Hok Lundy.

"He doesn't like being in the spotlight like the rest of his brothers. Maybe Manith himself or his father feels he is not suited for high-level positions," said Ou Virak, founder of the Future Forum policy think tank in Cambodia.

General Hun Manith (center) at an event in Phnom Penh in 2019. Photo: Khmer Times

Not following a military career, Hun Many, the youngest son of Prime Minister Hun Sen, entered parliament at the age of 30 and became the youngest member of the Cambodian parliament when he was elected as a representative of Kampong Speu province in 2013. He is also the President of the Cambodian Youth Federation.

Many, born on November 27, 1982, also received political training abroad. He often speaks out on domestic political issues, including times criticizing opposition politicians or foreign organizations accused of interfering in Cambodia's internal affairs.

Many is not shy about appearing in the press, actively communicating policies and has revealed his desire to succeed his father. The Khmer Times called him a "rising star" in the CPP in 2015 and declared him Cambodia's "youth leader" in 2016.

Hun Many said last August that he wanted to be recognized for what he had done for society rather than being the son of a prime minister. "Being the son of a prime minister doesn't mean you don't have to work hard, don't have your own ideas, but especially don't have to act to achieve any goals. I may not necessarily have to do those things, but that's not what I want," he said.

Despite his political ambitions, Hun Many still supports Hun Manet, affirming that his brother has proven maturity and is loved and respected by many people.

"Brother Net! We put our trust in you," Mr. Many wrote in a Facebook post on July 26, after his eldest brother was given the responsibility of leading the government by his father.

Thanh Tam (According to Khmer Times, Phnom Penh Post, Cambodianess, WP )

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