KAMPONG CHHNANG: Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen reminded a crowd of nearly 20,000 garment factory employees that starting war is very easy, but ending war is far more difficult.

During his second day of speeches in Kampong Chhnang on June 9, the PM said that war can start in a matter of minutes.

"Lon Nol decided to overthrow the King in just a few minutes, but a return to peace took many years," he said.

He then recalled the dark times after Pol Pot overthrew the Lon Nol government. He said that seeing this made him willing to risk his life to save the Cambodian people from the cruel government of Pol Pot.

The Khmer Republic collapsed on April 17, 1975, as Cambodia celebrated the traditional Khmer New Year.

The fall of the Khmer Republic led Cambodia down a dark and war-torn path until 1998, when peace was restored through the win-win policy of Prime Minister Hun Sen.