PHNOM PENH: Prime Minister Hun Sen has announced to his compatriots the court order to officially changing his date of birth from 4 April 1951, to his actual date of birth on 5 August 1952. He has announced this change to avoid further confusion about his date of birth, as in the past, he has received birthday wishes from national and international dignitaries, as well as members of the public, twice a year.
In a message sent to his compatriots on Wednesday, 22 June, Prime Minister Hun Sen stated that the reason why he had his official date of birth listed as 4 April was because this was the date he entered the forest to join the troops fighting against traitors and a foreign invasion, following the call of King Norodom Sihanouk during the Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s.
He stated, "During the war, I set the day that I joined the fighters, April 4 1951, [as my birthday] and have used it since the past until now”.
He added that the change of his official date of birth to the actual date is to avoid confusion from national and international dignitaries, as well as members of the general public, who send him birthday wishes twice a year.
On 20 June 2022, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court issued an order to adjust Prime Minister Hun Sen’s official date of birth to his actual date of birth, 5 August 1952, after receiving an application from the lawyer Ky Tech. The court ordered the registrar, as well as the relevant authorities and institutions, to subsequently revise the Prime Minister’s birth certificates and other identification documents.
After the court issued the order, Prime Minister Hun Sen wrote letters to Her Majesty Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni, President of the Senate, Say Chhum, President of the National Assembly, Heng Samrin, Minister of Interior, DPM Sar Kheng, Chairman of the NEC, Prach Chan, Minister in Charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers, DPM Bin Chhin, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, DPM Prak Sokhonn, to inform them of this decision.
