Phnom Penh: Cambodia is celebrating its 28th Constitution Day on Friday. It marks the 28th anniversary of the promulgation of the National Constitution. Prime Minister Hun Sen has issued a statement to mark the day, thanking Cambodians for ensuring the preservation of peace in the country so that the “nation can prosper and move forward”.

In his statement he says the promulgation of the Constitution was the result of a process that began with the Paris Peace Agreement, which was signed on 23 October 1991. He describes that as a “joint solution to end the historic Cambodian crisis, which then (led) on May 23-28, our country’s first elections under the auspices of UNTAC. After the election, the national constitution made in history in 1993.”

It was 24 September 1993, at the Royal Palace, that His Majesty King Norodom Sihanouk signed the Royal Decree promulgating the “Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia”, officially giving the country its name.

The Prime Minister says the Constitution “is the supreme law of the Kingdom of Cambodia. All laws and decisions of state institutions must be in strict accordance with the Constitution.” He says some of the most important points that are clearly stated in the Constitution are: “Cambodia must strictly abide by the constitutional monarchy, liberal democracy and pluralism. The Cambodian Constitution stipulates the principle of separation of powers: 1) the legislature, 2) the executive, and 3) the judiciary, and also enshrines the fundamental rights of citizens and the rule of law.”