Cambodia: A National Prayer for Peace and Unity at the Win-Win Memorial

In an atmosphere filled with reverence, a prayer ceremony was organized on Monday evening at the Win-Win Memorial, located in Sangkat Prek Tasek, in the Chroy Changvar district of Phnom Penh.

The event, which brought together government representatives, members of the armed forces, monks and citizens from diverse backgrounds, aimed to invoke peace, happiness, and lasting unity in Cambodia.

This spiritual ceremony coincided with the 27th anniversary of National Peace Day, marking the official end of the country’s internal armed conflict. December 29, 1998 symbolizes, in fact, the success of the so-called “Win-Win” policy, initiated by former Prime Minister Hun Sen, which definitively ended nearly three decades of war and allowed the total reunification of the territory under a single peaceful government.

Erected in 2018, the Win-Win Memorial remains a high place of national memory and gratitude toward those who contributed to the kingdom’s regained stability. The monument celebrates the strategy that made possible the peaceful demobilization of former Khmer Rouge factions and the consolidation of a sovereign and peaceful state. Each year, Peace Day is celebrated there through Buddhist prayers, the laying of offerings, and tributes to the victims of past conflicts.

Speaking to the crowd, several dignitaries reminded that peace remains an essential foundation for Cambodia’s development and social progress. “Peace is not an achievement; it is a collective responsibility,” notably declared a senior government representative, emphasizing the need to preserve harmony in an uncertain regional and global context.

By candlelight and under the chanting of monks, Monday’s ceremony symbolized the continuation of a national aspiration: that of a united, prosperous, and peaceful Cambodia, 27 years after the end of hostilities.

Photos : Kul Renny - AKP