PHNOM PENH: Addressing a meeting with the Samdech Techo Voluntary Youth Association at the OCIC Center in Phnom Penh, on Tuesday, 17 May 2022, Prime Minister Hun Sen asked the United States administration, through the US Ambassador to Cambodia, to clarify the case of violence acted upon by the opposition, when an individual threw a shoe at the Prime Minister’s head during his visit to Washington, D.C., for the ASEAN-US Special Summit last week.

The Prime Minister asked the United States whether this case could be considered an act of ‘freedom of expression’ or ‘violence’. “If the United States considers this action freedom of expression, then it will be able to spread to other countries, including Cambodia as well”, he added.

The Prime Minister further said, "If they can do [violent acts such as throwing shoes] in the United States, then this case could happen in Cambodia as well. This is a very high risk! I asked my supporters to be patient, I do not encourage them to do anything. […] If the United States considers this violent case as an act of freedom of expression, then it could happen anywhere around the world, including in Cambodia."

He feared that if the United States considers this case an act of freedom of expression, then his supporters might do the same thing against the opposition group.

He also stated that he did not want the United States to take any action against the person who threw the shoe at him, but only asked the United States to clarify this matter.

Prime Minister Hun Sen also sent a message to analysts to be careful in their analysis to avoid distortion.