Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday announced $1.31 million had been donated by oknhas and senior military officers to build 348 homes for veterans at an event marking Cambodian Veteran’s Day on Koh Pich.

The premier also announced his family had donated $100,000 to be matched by another $100,000 from the Cambodian Red Cross (CRC) – run by first lady Bun Rany – to fund 200 funeral ceremonies for fallen veterans every year. He also took the opportunity to take a jab at the embattled CNRP.

“If the opposition political party dares to oppose my initiative in this social donation, I don’t think our disabled veterans would tolerate it,” he said.

The CRC has been accused of using donations to further the ruling CPP’s political objectives, and Pech Pisey, program director with Transparency International Cambodia, said its links to the ruling party sometimes make the public “confused” about its donations.

“Usually, the public assumes that there’s a political agenda,” he said. “The public perception has never been clear.”

Additional reporting by Yesenia Amaro