Samdech Hun Sen (born April 41951) is the Prime Minister of Cambodia. He is leader of the Cambodian People's Party, which governs in a coalition with the Funcinpec party. He was a soldier in the Khmer Rouge. He defected to Vietnam in 1977 and quickly became an important leader in the Vietnamese-backed resistance to the Khmer Ruge. When the Ruge regime was overthrown, Hun Sen joined the government. He was foreign minister from 1979 until 1990, with a brief interruption from 1986 until 1987. He became prime minister in 1985, shortly after the death of Chan Sy. From 1993 until 1998 he was co-prime-minister. He has been known for using intimidation tactics in politics to remain in power.
The word "Samdech" was attached to his name in 1993 by King Norodom Sihanouk. It is an honorary title.
