Hor Namhong
Cambodian politician
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Hor Namhong GCC GOM (Khmer: ហោ ណាំហុង, Haô Nămhŏng [hao nam.hong]; born 15 November 1935)[1] is a Member of the Supreme Privy Council to His Majesty the King of Cambodia since 2023.[2] He is also a member of the Cambodian People's Party and has been a Deputy Prime Minister since 2004. He served as a Cambodian diplomat who served in the government of Cambodia as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1990 to 1993[3] and again from 1998 to 2016.[4] He also served as Cambodia's foreign minister for a combined tenure of 20 years. His official title is Samdech Issara Wites Panha Hor Namhong (Khmer: សម្ដេចឥស្សរវិទេសបញ្ញា ហោ ណាំហុង).[5]
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Hor Namhong | |
|---|---|
| ហោ ណាំហុង | |
Namhong in 2015 | |
| Member of the Supreme Privy Council to His Majesty the King | |
| Monarch | Norodom Sihamoni |
| Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia | |
| In office 16 July 2004 – 22 August 2023 | |
| Monarch | Norodom Sihamoni |
| Prime Minister | Hun Sen |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation | |
| In office 30 November 1998 – 4 April 2016 | |
| Prime Minister | Hun Sen |
| Preceded by | Ung Huot |
| Succeeded by | Prak Sokhonn |
| In office 1990–1993 | |
| Prime Minister | Hun Sen |
| Preceded by | Hun Sen |
| Succeeded by | Norodom Sirivudh |
| Member of Parliament for Kampong Cham | |
| In office 25 November 1998 – 29 July 2018 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 November 1935 |
| Party | Cambodian People's Party |
| Children | 5 |
| Alma mater | École royale d'administration European Institute of High International Studies University of Paris |
| Profession | Politician, diplomat |
Early life and education
Born at Phnom Penh, Hor Namhong was educated at the École royale d'administration (diplomatic section) in Cambodia.[1] He holds a Master of Law degree from the Faculty of Law in Paris[3] and a diploma from the European Institute of High International Studies in France.[1]
Early career
Boeng Trabek prison camp
Between 1975 and 1979 Hor Namhong claims to have been a prisoner of the Khmer Rouge at Boeng Trabek.[7] There have been accusations that he collaborated with his captors but Hor Namhong denies the accusations and was successful in a defamation suit against his accusers.[7][8] On April 27, 2011, Hor Namhong lost a defamation suit in the French Supreme Court in which he claimed he was innocent of atrocities committed during the Khmer Rouge regime from 1975 through 1979.[9][10]
In July 2011 Namhong lodged a protest with United States officials regarding a leaked diplomatic cable. The undated cable claimed that Namhong "became head of the Beng Trabek (sic) camp and he and his wife collaborated in the killing of many prisoners."[11]
Subsequent career
In 1980, following the fall of the Khmer Rouge, Hor Namhong joined the government as Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs.[6] In 1982 he was appointed as ambassador to the Soviet Union, a post which he held until 1989.[3] In 1989 he returned to Cambodia as Minister of the Council of Ministers in charge of Foreign Affairs.[6] In 1990 he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs[3] and in 1991 became a member of the Supreme National Council of Cambodia.[6]
Between 1987 and 1991 Hor Namhong was one of the key negotiators in the peace talks to end the "Cambodia Conflict".[6] In October 1991 he was a signatory of the Paris Peace Agreement.[6]
In 1993 he returned to the diplomatic corps as ambassador to France.[6] In 1998 he returned to government as a Member of the National Assembly and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.[6] In 2004, in addition to his position as foreign minister, he was appointed a deputy prime minister.[6]
He retired from his post as foreign minister on 4 April 2016 after 17 years in office, though remained as a deputy prime minister.[12] He was the longest serving Cambodian foreign minister.
Personal life
Hor Namhong is married, having five children.[6] His eldest son, Hor Sothoun, is Permanent Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and his two other sons serve as ambassadors: Hor Nambora as Ambassador to the United Kingdom[13] and Hor Monirath as Ambassador to Japan (current Secretary of State of the Ministry of Tourism).[14][15]
Awards
National
Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Cambodia[6]
Grand Officer of the Royal Order of Monisaraphon[6]
Foreign
Grand Officer of the National Ordre du Mérite (France)[6]
Grand Cross of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant (Thailand)[6]
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