The government has decided to add Win-Win Policy Day, December 29, to the annual calendar, albeit not as a public holiday, according to a letter signed by Prime Minister Hun Sen on January 14.

He said that December 29 marks a complete end to the civil war, an end to bloodshed and complete peace through policy.

The letter said that for the past 23 years, Cambodia has set December 29, 1998 as the end of the civil war and the beginning of comprehensive peace.

Following the stages of civil war and the genocidal regime of Pol Pot, the emergence of the win-win policy saw a return to peace, the letter said.

“In order to be grateful and remember this precious policy, the government would like to advise all ministries, institutions, capital and provinces to set December 29, Win-Win Policy Day, in annual calendars without holiday from 2022 onwards,” Hun Sen said.

All such organisations must erect banners and signs to celebrate Win-Win Policy Day with the message, “Thank you, peace! Thank you, win-win policy! I am grateful to the founders, the leaders and the win-win policy operators who brought peace and complete national unity”, the letter stated.

Cambodian Institute for Democracy president Pa Chanroeun told The Post on January 18 that the inclusion of Win-Win Policy Day in the national calendar was not wrong, but some other dates linked to historical events should also be included.

“I do not think it’s wrong to include this day in the national calendar without a holiday, because it has no impact on productivity and raises public awareness. It’s also an opportunity for the younger generation to understand history,” he said.

Chanroeun suggested that the government include other historical events such as the Paris Peace Agreements October 23 and International Human Rights Day on December 10.

“Without the Paris Peace Accords, there would have been no win-win policy,” he said.

Of the 28 public holidays formerly marked, the government has removed six.

The holidays that were deducted are International Children’s Day; the Paris Peace Agreements; Human Rights Day; Meak Bochea; National Day of Remembrance; and the birthday of King Norodom Sihamoni which was reduced from two days to one.