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24-Aug-2005
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July 15, 2004 - Profile: Cambodia's new prime minister Hun Sen

PHNOM PENH, (Xinhuanet) -- Cambodia's outgoing Prime Minister Hun Sen was re-elected premier of the third mandate royal government of Cambodia after the National Assembly approved the lineup of a new cabinet on Thursday.

    King Norodom Sihanouk on Wednesday issued a royal decree, naming Hun Sen as a new prime minister and to form the new cabinet.

    The new term makes Hun Sen the longest-serving elected premier in the 10-member ASEAN states.

    A son of a peasant family, Hun Sen rose to the premiership, thethird time in his political career, through a combination of his enriched political experience, ability and sagacity, chance and strategy.

    Born of a poor peasant family on Aug. 5, 1952 in the eastern province of Kompong Cham, Hun Sen spent his childhood in difficultconditions. With little schooling, he tried to receive education in Phnom Penh while residing in a pagoda.

    He joined forces led by the Democratic Kampuchea (DK) during their 1970-75 guerrilla war against the US-backed Lon Nol government that ousted then head of state Prince Norodom Sihanouk.Beginning from the lowest rank, he gradually rose to the commandership of a squad, a platoon and a brigade.

    Hun Sen, who lost an eye in the last days of the war, went to Vietnam to join Heng Samrin in 1977.

    He was appointed minister of foreign affairs of the People's Republic of Kampuchea in January 1979. He was elected as presidentof the Council of Ministers in January 1985 while retaining his post as foreign minister, becoming one of the world's youngest prime minister.

    From 1993 to 1998, Hun Sen had been second prime minister in a coalition government led by first-premier Prince Norodom Ranariddh,and was elected prime minister on 1998 for the second mandate government.

    Hun Sen has proven his incomparable commitment in the reconstruction of Cambodian infranstructure such as rural roads, school, hospitals, and made great efforts to gradually improve the living standards of the people.

    He married with three sons and two daughters. Enditem