{{short description|Cambodian politician (born 1978 or 1979)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2026}} {{family name hatnote|lang=Cambodian|Phouthang|Mithuna}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = | native_name = {{nobold|មិថុនា ភូថង}} | native_name_lang = km | image = | caption = | office = Governor of the Koh Kong province | term_label = | leader1 = |term_start=19 June 2017 | term_end = 20 August 2025 | monarch = Norodom Sihamoni | prime_minister = Hun Sen<br>Hun Manet | predecessor = Paitoon Phramkesorn |successor=Chhy Va | birth_date = | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | party = Cambodian People's Party | spouse = | children = |relatives=Say Phouthang (grandfather)<br>Tea Vinh (uncle)<br>Tea Banh (uncle) |occupation= | alma_mater = United States Army War College }} '''Mithuna Phuthong''' ({{langx|km|មិថុនា ភូថង}}; born 1978 or 1979) is a Cambodian politician, who served as Governor of the Koh Kong province between 2017 and 2025. She was the first female governor of a Cambodian province.
==Early life== Mithuna was born in 1978 or 1979 into a prominent local political family of Thai origin; her grandfather was the Cambodian revolutionary Say Phouthang, her father is the former governor of the Koh Kong province Yuth Phuthong, and her uncles are the military officers and politicians Tea Vinh and Tea Banh.<ref name="daily1">{{cite news |last1=Pheap |first1=Aun |title=Provincial Governor Changes Draw Praise, Disappointment |url=https://english.cambodiadaily.com/2017/06/19/provincial-governor-changes-draw-praise-disappointment/ |access-date=30 March 2026 |work=The Cambodia Daily |date=19 June 2017}}</ref><ref name="nation1">{{cite news |title=Mithona Phouthong ousted as Koh Kong governor amid Thai-Cambodian mistrust |url=https://www.nationthailand.com/news/asean/40054314 |access-date=30 March 2026 |work=The Nation |date=21 August 2025}}</ref><ref name="kom1">{{cite news |title=มิถุนา ภูทอง ผู้ว่าหญิงคนแรกของกัมพูชา หลานสาว "ก๋งใส่" นักปฏิวัติเขมร เชื้อสายไทยเกาะกง ชาว อ.คลองใหญ่ จ.ตราด |url=https://www.komchadluek.net/scoop/433783 |access-date=30 March 2026 |work=Kom Chad Luek |date=13 June 2020 |language=th |trans-title=Mithuna Bhouthong, Cambodia's first female governor, is the granddaughter of “Kong Sai,” a Cambodian revolutionary of Thai descent from Koh Kong, in the Khlong Yai district of Trat Province, Thailand.}}</ref> She studied at the United States Army War College.<ref name="nation1" /> ==Career== In 2016, she was named vice governor of the Koh Kong province under Paitoon Phramkesorn leadership, and previously served as member of the Provincial Council.<ref name="nation1" /><ref name="daily1" /> She was elected governor in the 2017 communal elections, becoming the first female governor of a Cambodian province, and was appointed by royal decree on 19 June 2017.<ref name="nation1" /><ref name="daily1" />
During her term as governor, she implemented a policy to develop the province by building and improving infrastructure, including the construction of a new provincial hall, a new public park, a hospital, health centers, schools, and temples to attract more private sector investment to Koh Kong province.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sivutha |first1=Nov |title=Koh Kong governor Mithona Phuthong on her building boom and famous grandfather |url=https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national-post-depth/koh-kong-governor-mithona-phuthong-her-building-boom-and-famous-grandfather |access-date=30 March 2026 |work=The Phnom Penh Post |date=3 March 2022}}</ref> In May 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Cambodia, she ordered lockdowns in several villages and closed two tourists sites.<ref>{{cite news |title=Seven villages in Koh Kong locked down over Covid-19 outbreak |url=https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50861056/seven-villages-in-koh-kong-locked-down-over-covid-19-outbreak/ |access-date=30 March 2026 |work=Khmer Times |date=24 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Two tourist sites locked down over fear of Covid-19 spread in Koh Kong |url=https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50862561/two-tourist-sites-locked-down-over-fear-of-covid-19-spread-in-koh-kong/ |access-date=30 March 2026 |work=Khmer Times |date=26 May 2021}}</ref> The construction of the Dara Sakor International Airport was one of the main controversies in her tenure.<ref name="nation1" />
After the 2025 Cambodian–Thai border crisis on 20 August 2025, King Norodom Sihamoni appointed her Secretary of State for Women's Affairs and Chhy Va, who was vice governor, as her successor.<ref name="nation1" /><ref>{{cite news |title=King appoints new secretary of state for women’s affairs and new Koh Kong governor |url=https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501743144/king-appoints-new-secretary-of-state-for-womens-affairs-and-new-koh-kong-governor/ |access-date=30 March 2026 |work=Khmer Times |date=21 August 2025}}</ref> Her dismissal was viewed by the opposition in Cambodia as a symbol of anti-Thai sentiment and ended her family's political dynasty, since her family was considerated a bridge connecting the two countries.<ref>{{cite news |title=เกมดับ “มิถุนา ภูทอง” หลาน ”เตียบัญ” พ้น���ู้ว่าฯเกาะกง ระแวงเขมรพูดไทย |url=https://www.nationtv.tv/politic/rueang-mai-cop/378965798 |access-date=30 March 2026 |work=Nation TV |date=21 August 2025 |language=th |trans-title=The game is over: “Mithuna Phuthong,” nephew of “Tiabun,” has been removed from his position as governor of Koh Kong amid suspicions that a Cambodian speaks Thai.}}</ref><ref name="nation1" />
==References== {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Phuthong, Mithuna}} Category:Living people Category:Cambodian people of Thai descent Category:United States Army War College alumni Category:Cambodian People's Party politicians Category:21st-century Cambodian women politicians