For Cambodia’s youth born after 1998, the concept of “Peace” can feel abstract. However, for the generations who survived the “Killing Fields” and thirty years of relentless civil war, peace is a hard-won miracle. It was not a product of chance, but the result of the Win-Win Policy—a brilliant strategic framework pioneered by Samdech Techo Hun Sen.
The heart of this transformation lies in the DIFID strategy. Between February 11, 1996, and December 29, 1998 (1,052 days and nights), this homegrown formula achieved what billion-dollar international interventions could not: the total unification of Cambodia.
I. Beyond UNTAC: Why Cambodia Built Its Own Peace
By the mid-1990s, the UNTAC mission had concluded, yet the Khmer Rouge remained a potent threat in the border jungles. Cambodia was a fractured house, with innocent lives still caught in the crossfire.
Refusing to simply “fan the smoke” of an endless conflict, Samdech Techo Hun Sen chose to “extinguish the fire” at its source. He moved beyond military stalemate toward a revolutionary political solution—the Win-Win Policy.
II. The Core Pillars: Three Guarantees of Trust
To dismantle the Khmer Rouge, the Royal Government replaced the fear of revenge with the certainty of inclusion. The policy succeeded because it provided Three Sacred Guarantees:
- Life and Safety: A promise of no executions and no imprisonment for those who defected.
- Career Continuity: Former insurgents maintained their professional ranks within the national framework.
- Property Security: Protection of the homes and land they already occupied.
III. Decoding the DIFID Strategy
To dismantle the insurgent structure, the Royal Government executed the DIFID tactical framework:
- D – Divide: Separating the Khmer Rouge’s military forces from their radical political leadership.
- I – Isolate: Stripping hardline leaders of their support base until they stood alone.
- F – Finish: Ending the military infrastructure and strongholds of the rebels.
- I – Integrate: Absorbing former fighters into the national civil and military systems.
- D – Develop: Transforming former battlefields like Pailin and Anlong Veng into hubs of peace and tourism.
IV. From Internal Conflict to National Unity
The “explosion of peace” began on February 11, 1996, when Keo Pong’s Division 18 integrated with the government. This momentum swept through the strongholds of Malai and Pailin, eventually reaching the radical “nest” at Anlong Veng.
As the radical leadership fell into internal chaos and paranoia—culminating in the execution of Son Sen—rank-and-file soldiers saw the truth: Samdech Techo’s path offered life, while Pol Pot’s path offered only death. By December 29, 1998, the last remnants of the Khmer Rouge integrated into the state, unifying Cambodia for the first time in 500 years.
V. A Global Legacy: Cambodia’s Lesson to the World
While other nations use external peace models, Cambodia’s DIFID strategy is a unique, homegrown success.
- Ownership: It was 100% Khmer-led, proving that local problems require local solutions.
- Prosperity: The “D” (Develop) in DIFID is visible today in Cambodia’s booming digital economy and tourism surge.
- Reconciliation: It turned former enemies into brothers-in-arms, creating the stability required for the 2050 vision of a high-income nation.
Conclusion: Protecting the Peace for Future Generations
Today, the “Peace Day in Cambodia” (December 29) serves as a reminder to the youth: Peace is not a gift; it is a responsibility. Under the continued leadership of Samdech Thipadei, Cambodia remains committed to the Win-Win spirit—defending our sovereignty and ensuring that we never slide back into the abyss of war.
“Thank You, Peace.”
READ MORE: How December 29 Reshaped Cambodia’s Destiny
Frequently Asked Questions: Cambodia’s Win-Win Policy & DIFID Strategy
1. What is the “Win-Win Policy” in Cambodia?
The Win-Win Policy is a homegrown political strategy pioneered by Samdech Techo Hun Sen in the mid-1990s. Its primary goal was to end the Cambodian civil war by offering Khmer Rouge insurgents three core guarantees: the guarantee of life and safety, the guarantee of career continuity, and the guarantee of property ownership. This approach successfully integrated former rebels into society without further bloodshed.
2. What does the “DIFID” strategy stand for?
DIFID is the tactical framework used to implement the Win-Win Policy. It stands for:
- Divide (Splitting the rebels from radical leaders)
- Isolate (Leaving hardliners without support)
- Finish (Ending the military organization)
- Integrate (Merging former forces into the state)
- Develop (Transforming battlefields into productive economic zones)
3. Why is December 29 celebrated as “Peace Day” in Cambodia?
December 29, 1998, marks the day the top leaders of the Khmer Rouge officially surrendered and integrated into the Royal Government. This date signifies the definitive end of nearly 30 years of civil war and the first time in over 500 years that Cambodia achieved total territorial and political unity.
4. How does the Win-Win Policy benefit Cambodia today?
The “Peace Dividend” from this policy is the foundation of Cambodia’s modern success. It allowed the government to shift its focus from military spending to national development, leading to the current booms in tourism, infrastructure, and the digital economy (such as the Bakong system). It ensures the stability required for Cambodia to reach its goal of becoming a high-income nation by 2050.
5. How does the DIFID strategy differ from international peace models?
Unlike many international models that rely on foreign intervention or punitive justice, the DIFID strategy was 100% Khmer-led. It focused on “Internal Reconciliation” and economic development (the “D” in DIFID), ensuring that former enemies had a personal stake in the country’s peaceful future through job security and land rights.