Hun Sen’s father dies in Cambodia at age 89

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen kisses a 10th-century Cambodian sandstone statue from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, which is displayed in Peace Palace before an opening ceremony of the 37th Session of the World Heritage Committee in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Sunday, June 16, 2013. The annual meeting of the World Heritage Committee is kicked off in Cambodian capital with about 1,500 delegates from more than 120 countries participate. (AP Photo/Lon Jadina, POOL)

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia— The father of Cambodia’s longtime Prime Minister Hun Sen has died of natural causes at the age of 89.

The notice of Hun Neang’s death was broadcast Friday on a national television station owned by Hun Sen’s ruling party.

The news report said Hun Neang had six children, 30 grandchildren and 66 great grandchildren. It called him a good father and a respected Buddhist who had built several schools, repaired crumbling Buddhist pagodas and helped poor farmers by building water wells.

The report said Hun Neang was ill for many months and had been bedridden before passing away Friday morning.

His death came just weeks before Cambodia’s July 28 general election, which longtime strongman Hun Sen is expected to win to extend his 28-year rule.