The Win-Win Memorial in the capital’s Chroy Changvar district, on a sunny day in 2023. Hong Menea
Tea Banh, a member of the Supreme Privy Council to the King and head of the foundation for building the Win-Win Monument, announced that Cambodia plans to construct three additional monuments, modelled after the one in Phnom Penh.
The structures, to be located in Koh Kong, Oddar Meanchey and Pailin provinces, symbolise harmony and serve as physical representations of amiable diplomacy, celebrating the policy that secured lasting peace for the country.
Tea Banh highlighted the impact of the policy during a March 1 ceremony celebrating the historical achievements of the government, at Techo Santepheap Garden.
“The Win-Win Policy transformed Cambodia from killing fields, areas of insecurity and minefields into a country enjoying complete peace, independence and attractiveness as a tourist destination. It afforded Cambodia the opportunity to achieve nationwide harmony and family prosperity. This policy has fuelled the development of infrastructure, trade and investment growth, stimulating the national economy,” he stated.
He added that the policy, initiated by former Prime Minister Hun Sen, has significantly benefited the country and become a major force in national politics.
He emphasised that acknowledging its impact over the past 25 years is not an overstatement but rather a recognition of its role in securing lasting peace. He added that the UN spent $2 billion attempting to achieve this goal during the transitional period in Cambodia in the early 1990s but failed.
Yang Peou, secretary-general of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, expressed that the new structures are crucial for educating the new generation about the country’s challenging history.
“The construction serves as a tangible record for future generations, a reminder that war erupts easily, but peace is hard-won. It requires strong political will and wise leadership to achieve peace,” he stressed.
The Win-Win Monument, constructed in 2016 and officially inaugurated in December 2018, is located in Phnom Penh’s Chroy Changvar district, near the Morodok Techo National Stadium.
Standing 54m tall and occupying 8ha of land, the edifice commemorates the victory over the Khmer Rouge. Its construction, which spanned nearly three years, cost approximately $12 million.
On January 1, the government declared December 29 as Peace Day, establishing it as an official public holiday.
The commemoration is in remembrance of the same date in 1998, which marked the complete cessation of war in Cambodia and the attainment of peace in the nation.
