Cambodia marks 47th anniversary of founding of movement that toppled Khmer Rouge

December 2, 1979 was the founding Day of the National Solidarity Front for the Development of the Cambodian Motherland’, led by Senate president Hun Sen (centre), Heng Samrin, Chea Sim and many other patriots, to overthrow the Khmer Rouge regime. - FB via PPP/ANN

Phnom Penh, 2 December 2025 — Monday, December 2, marks one of the most significant days in the political history of modern Cambodia.

The “Founding Day of the National Solidarity Front for the Development of the Cambodian Motherland – December 2” was described by Senate president Hun Sen as “an eternal intergenerational legacy of the spirit of joining hands to end war, unite the nation, reconcile the country and strengthen national unity toward the path of building and developing a prosperous Cambodia”.

In a congratulatory message on the 47th anniversary of the Front’s founding, Hun Sen explained that the Front was formed by the collective great solidarity of Cambodians everywhere — led by Heng Samrin, Chea Sim, Hun Sen himself and many other patriotic heroes — in organising the forces that toppled the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime. Their struggle culminated in victory on January 7, 1979.

“The great victory of January 7, 1979 ended the darkest era in Cambodia’s history and opened a new era. Cambodians regained their freedoms, rights and the opportunity to rebuild their homeland. Everyone clearly understands that without the birth of the December 2 Front and the January 7 victory, nothing we have today would exist. This is a historical truth,” said Hun Sen.

The Front was subsequently renamed the “National Solidarity Front for the Development of the Cambodian Motherland”, a mass organisation under the Cambodian People’s Party. It was first declared in the liberated zone of Cheung Khlou village, Pi Thnou (2 December) commune, Snuol district, in Kratie province.

Responding to the Front’s appeal, people across the country rose together in a tremendous national solidarity movement, supported by the voluntary Vietnamese army and strong international allies, to overthrow Democratic Kampuchea and achieve the historic victory of 7 January 1979.

Along with a historical video clip tracing the origins of this important day through to the victory and Cambodia’s development thereafter, the Royal Government stated that Cambodia had endured over 500 years of fragmentation.

“This is an undeniable historical fact, and everything had to be rebuilt from ‘zero’. Over the past 25 years of full peace, Cambodia has progressed through efforts to build, protect and develop the nation — core priorities of the Royal Government to safeguard peace, stability, prosperity and social progress,” explained Hun Sen.

Several nations sent congratulatory messages for the 47th anniversary.

Tran Thanh Man, chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly, shared his best wishes with Hun Sen.

He expressed strong confidence that based on the solid foundation of sustained cooperative relations and the agreements they have recently achieved, cooperation between the Vietnamese National Assembly and the Cambodian Senate will continue to develop, contributing to strengthening and deepening the neighbourly relations, traditional friendship and long-term, strong cooperation in all fields for the benefit of the peoples of both countries.

The Phnom Penh Post