Cambodia’s strongman Hun Sen brushed off a Thai university’s decision to revoke an honorary Doctorate of Philosophy in Political Science, saying he had already thrown it away when Thailand’s military invaded Cambodia’s Preah Vihear Temple in 2008.
Hun Sen said the doctorate, awarded to him by Ramkhamhaeng University in 2001, is of no value to him, adding, “You (the university) don’t have to take my degree because I threw it in the toilet back in 2008!” he said.
Hun Sen also claimed no sense of pride in the award, saying “Hun Sen’s brain doesn’t come from your schools. Hun Sen’s mind comes from the teachings of Cambodian schools.”
The university’s council said yesterday that it had resolved that Hun Sen’s actions during the recent border tensions contradicted the citation given when the degree was awarded, which praised him for promoting good neighbourly relations, peace and cooperation between the two countries.
During the armed conflicts, the university claimed that “Hun Sen displayed clear hostility towards the Thai state, including supporting the use of violent and inhumane armed force against Thai civilians.”
“These actions resulted in casualties among Thai soldiers and civilians, as well as widespread destruction of homes and property. Furthermore, Hun Sen encouraged violations of Thai sovereignty, leading to border clashes between the two nations, as is widely known.”
The council said this behaviour directly opposes the values of friendship and cooperation upon which the honorary degree was based.
For that reason, it concluded, allowing Hun Sen to keep the honorary doctorate would be in conflict with the intention behind awarding the degree.
