On the evening of 8 October 2025, Cambodia’s former prime minister Hun Sen issued an open letter urging people across the country to safeguard and use the national currency, the riel, to strengthen monetary sovereignty.
In the letter, Hun Sen said those who truly love their country should keep riel notes bearing the portraits of the Father King, Queen Mother and King in their drawers, wallets or pockets, rather than retain banknotes bearing the portrait of a foreign king whose country, he said, treats Cambodians as enemies and looks down on and insults them.
Hun Sen said: “I received reports that about two hours after I issued my appeal on 6 October, people in border areas, particularly Poipet, began exchanging their Thai baht for riel. This is a good thing. Using our own currency on our own territory can prevent economic losses and stop others from using money as a political weapon against us in the future.
“I have also heard that some Cambodians working in Thailand are now unable to withdraw their savings from Thai banks. This shows that the baht is already ‘killing’ Cambodians earning a living in Thailand. If it continues circulating in Cambodia, sooner or later it will also ‘kill’ Cambodians who still use and hold it.”
He particularly urged currency-exchange operators to use market exchange rates, rather than make excessive profits by deliberately depressing the baht’s value and raising the riel’s, thereby harming people who genuinely need to exchange money.
Hun Sen also told Cambodians to stop calculating wages and pricing goods or services in baht from now on, and instead use riel or U.S. dollars—preferably riel—to strengthen the national currency.
“If you love your country, cherish banknotes bearing the portraits of our Father King, Queen Mother and King, rather than keep money bearing the image of a foreign monarch whose country treats us as enemies and insults us.
“I also call on the government and relevant authorities at all levels to firmly root out officials and traders who continue smuggling Thai goods into the country. Their conduct makes our neighbour look down on us and believe Cambodians cannot do without their goods.
“If I were still prime minister, I would not need to speak in this tone—I would directly order arrests or removal from office. But do not think that when the cat is away, the mice can rule.”
Compiled by this outlet
