Cambodian soldiers sit in a hut near Preah Vihear temple with their somewhat rusty AK-47 weapons in July this year. Military experts say the RCAF is woefully unprepared to fight. (Photo: HENG CHIVOAN)Tuesday, 30 September 2008
Written by Brendan Brady and Thet Sambath The Phnom Penh Post
The recent border standoff over Preah Vihear temple threw a spotlight on RCAF by beaming around the world images of flip-flop-wearing Cambodian soldiers with rusty guns
"[RCAF is] woefully unprepared [and] poorly equipped across the board," one military analyst, who declined to be named as he still works with RCAF, told the Post.
No recent figures were available, but a 2002 report put defence spending at more than half of the national budget.
Yet most of RCAF's equipment is outdated kit left over from the Cold War. Soldiers are poorly trained, and discipline is low, with many troops simply refusing to show up for duty.
Analysts say the country needs a well-equiped and organised military to protect national sovereignty and participate in peacekeeping.
"We want to develop and modernise as a state, and defence is part of that," said Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan. "But [our military will develop] with an orientation towards ... peacekeeping work since we have an obligation to help others achieve peace."
Cleaning off the rust
Cambodia's military leadership claims the battlehardy RCAF troops more than make up for their rusting weaponry.
"Don't worry about their weapons, the Cambodian soldiers' strength is their experience as they've been in wars for decades," said Dien Del, a former military general who served under Lon Nol from 1970 to 1975.
But observers wonder how much of these proclamations on the prowess of Cambodian troops is hot air to compensate for poor organisation and low morale.
Due to the imminent possiblilty of combat, soldiers have only now started turning up to work, said Uth Sakada, a military engineer officer based along the border with Thailand in Battambang.
Before the border standoff emerged in July, "less than a third of us were at our base at any given time".
Now, the base's personnel are all present, on permanent standby, he said.
Moreover, things that should be routine - such as cleaning weapons - have only been carried out after the Preah Vihear skirmish broke out, said Ros Bun Hem, an artillery commander also stationed in Battambang.
The border standoff has focused attention on the condition of weapons, he said, with soldiers now prepping their instruments "to make sure they would fire well".
Cambodian soldiers in a trench with a rusty artillery piece in Preah Vihear earlier this year. RCAF lacks medium- and long-range offensive support weapons. (Photo: HENG CHIVOAN)
RCAF is not short of manpower or light arms but as the military analyst said, "small arms are small arms".
Up-to-date estimates of RCAF troop figures were not available but the government in 2001 estimated it has some 140,000 soldiers.
"It would be in the area of offensive support weapons (artillery) and air support that the Thais would completely outclass RCAF," he said.
The air force's "fleet" stationed in the capital amounts to about a dozen Russian-made MIGs whose flat tyres and dented panels can be seen when landing at the commercial airport.
It might also have several planes at air bases in Battambang and Sisophon.
But things may be changing. According to a high-ranking military official based in Phnom Penh who declined to be named, Cambodia will receive shortly a shipment of "modern fighter planes".
He would not specify the number or type of planes, or where they were coming from.
"We currently have peace but when our country faces a threat, new and modern aircraft fighters are needed for national defense," he said.
Another senior army official based in the capital claimed a large shipment of "modern equipment" - including guns and artillery - would be received at the end of October.
"We are not competing with other countries for weapons, but without them we could become a victim," he said.
Weaponry
The bulk of Cambodia's current military stocks come from China and Russia, with a few also coming from the United States and France.
An estimated several hundred post-WWII-issue tanks compose Cambodia's limited ground arsenal, of which only about half are believed to be functional.
Cambodia's artillery is compromises an array of old howitzers from Russia and the US, while shoulder-fired SAM-7 rockets are its most formidable anti-aircraft defence.
And the handful of serviceable helicopters from France are only enough for shuttling around generals.
Just 15 years ago the beneficiary of what was at the time the UN's largest peace keeping commission, Cambodia has begun to offer limited military services abroad, providing deminers in peacekeeping missions in Sudan, Iraq and Afghanistan.
"[We] are especially pleased to see them participating in peacekeeping missions when just a few short years ago they were beneficiaries of such forces," said US embassy spokesman John Johnson.
China has stepped up its military assistance to Cambodia in recent years, most notably providing the Kingdom's nearly non-existent navy with five warships in 2005 and nine patrol boats in November 2007.
The development has increased questions about how superpowers will compete for influence.
Just earlier this month, the US treated Cambodian government and military officials to a rare tour of one of its aircraft carriers when it sailed through the region on its way home from Iraq.
The first tour by Cambodian officials of a US aircraft carrier, the Cambodian officials were dazzled by what they had seen previously only on television. The US embassy called the junket "another step in the growing military-to-military relationship" between the two countries.
Shopping around
While Western countries, notably Australia, have expanded aid to Cambodian law enforcement for combating the trafficking of people and narcotics as well as for monitoring potential terrorist activity, they have been hesitant to supply lethal material.
Last year the US lifted a ban on military aid to Cambodia, but has only provided non-lethal assistance.
Asked about the future of military-to-military ties between the US and Cambodia during his visit earlier this month to Phnom Penh, US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte mentioned only non-combat related cooperation.
Even if boosted by a couple new shipments of materiel, what CPP parliamentarian Cheam Yeap described as "the many guerrilla strategies of Cambodia's troops who have fought in many battles" may be insufficient to compensate for poor resources.
"These are modern times, most countries use computers and advanced systems," said SRP parliamentarian and former chairman of the National Assembly's defense committee Yim Sovann, who said corruption over military spending plagued an already rag-tag group.
"Yes, Cambodian troops have experience, but without resources, without salaries they can survive on, they can't do much. This is not an army for modern times."
MILITARY SuppliesWITH coverage of the Preah Vihear dispute beaming images of soldiers with rusted AK-47s and rubber-band-bound grenades worldwide, questions are being raised about just how prepared the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) would be if called upon to fight.
Tanks T-55 tanks and PT-79 light amphibious tanks from Russia, Type 50 tanks and Type 62/63 light tanks from China, and AMX-13 light tanks from France. Aircraft No fighters, no ground attack aircraft, a few former Eastern block transport helicopters, around a dozen MI-17s and MI-8 planes. Light arms Howitzers from Russia and the US, shoulder-fired SAM-7 rockets. Lacks medium and long range offensive support weapons (artillery).
"[RCAF is] woefully unprepared [and] poorly equipped across the board," one military analyst, who declined to be named as he still works with RCAF, told the Post.
No recent figures were available, but a 2002 report put defence spending at more than half of the national budget.
Yet most of RCAF's equipment is outdated kit left over from the Cold War. Soldiers are poorly trained, and discipline is low, with many troops simply refusing to show up for duty.
Analysts say the country needs a well-equiped and organised military to protect national sovereignty and participate in peacekeeping.
"We want to develop and modernise as a state, and defence is part of that," said Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan. "But [our military will develop] with an orientation towards ... peacekeeping work since we have an obligation to help others achieve peace."
Cleaning off the rust
Cambodia's military leadership claims the battlehardy RCAF troops more than make up for their rusting weaponry.
"Don't worry about their weapons, the Cambodian soldiers' strength is their experience as they've been in wars for decades," said Dien Del, a former military general who served under Lon Nol from 1970 to 1975.
But observers wonder how much of these proclamations on the prowess of Cambodian troops is hot air to compensate for poor organisation and low morale.
Due to the imminent possiblilty of combat, soldiers have only now started turning up to work, said Uth Sakada, a military engineer officer based along the border with Thailand in Battambang.
Before the border standoff emerged in July, "less than a third of us were at our base at any given time".
Now, the base's personnel are all present, on permanent standby, he said.
Moreover, things that should be routine - such as cleaning weapons - have only been carried out after the Preah Vihear skirmish broke out, said Ros Bun Hem, an artillery commander also stationed in Battambang.
The border standoff has focused attention on the condition of weapons, he said, with soldiers now prepping their instruments "to make sure they would fire well".
"DON'T WORRY ABOUT THEIR WEAPONS, CAMBODIAN SOLDIERS’ STRENGTH IS THEIR EXPERIENCE AS THEY’VE BEEN IN WARS FOR DECADES." - [Dien Del, a loser-general from the Lon Nol era who now serves the CPP]How well equipped?
Cambodian soldiers in a trench with a rusty artillery piece in Preah Vihear earlier this year. RCAF lacks medium- and long-range offensive support weapons. (Photo: HENG CHIVOAN)RCAF is not short of manpower or light arms but as the military analyst said, "small arms are small arms".
Up-to-date estimates of RCAF troop figures were not available but the government in 2001 estimated it has some 140,000 soldiers.
"It would be in the area of offensive support weapons (artillery) and air support that the Thais would completely outclass RCAF," he said.
The air force's "fleet" stationed in the capital amounts to about a dozen Russian-made MIGs whose flat tyres and dented panels can be seen when landing at the commercial airport.
It might also have several planes at air bases in Battambang and Sisophon.
But things may be changing. According to a high-ranking military official based in Phnom Penh who declined to be named, Cambodia will receive shortly a shipment of "modern fighter planes".
He would not specify the number or type of planes, or where they were coming from.
"We currently have peace but when our country faces a threat, new and modern aircraft fighters are needed for national defense," he said.
Another senior army official based in the capital claimed a large shipment of "modern equipment" - including guns and artillery - would be received at the end of October.
"We are not competing with other countries for weapons, but without them we could become a victim," he said.
Weaponry
The bulk of Cambodia's current military stocks come from China and Russia, with a few also coming from the United States and France.
An estimated several hundred post-WWII-issue tanks compose Cambodia's limited ground arsenal, of which only about half are believed to be functional.
Cambodia's artillery is compromises an array of old howitzers from Russia and the US, while shoulder-fired SAM-7 rockets are its most formidable anti-aircraft defence.
And the handful of serviceable helicopters from France are only enough for shuttling around generals.
Just 15 years ago the beneficiary of what was at the time the UN's largest peace keeping commission, Cambodia has begun to offer limited military services abroad, providing deminers in peacekeeping missions in Sudan, Iraq and Afghanistan.
"[We] are especially pleased to see them participating in peacekeeping missions when just a few short years ago they were beneficiaries of such forces," said US embassy spokesman John Johnson.
China has stepped up its military assistance to Cambodia in recent years, most notably providing the Kingdom's nearly non-existent navy with five warships in 2005 and nine patrol boats in November 2007.
The development has increased questions about how superpowers will compete for influence.
Just earlier this month, the US treated Cambodian government and military officials to a rare tour of one of its aircraft carriers when it sailed through the region on its way home from Iraq.
The first tour by Cambodian officials of a US aircraft carrier, the Cambodian officials were dazzled by what they had seen previously only on television. The US embassy called the junket "another step in the growing military-to-military relationship" between the two countries.
Shopping around
While Western countries, notably Australia, have expanded aid to Cambodian law enforcement for combating the trafficking of people and narcotics as well as for monitoring potential terrorist activity, they have been hesitant to supply lethal material.
Last year the US lifted a ban on military aid to Cambodia, but has only provided non-lethal assistance.
Asked about the future of military-to-military ties between the US and Cambodia during his visit earlier this month to Phnom Penh, US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte mentioned only non-combat related cooperation.
Even if boosted by a couple new shipments of materiel, what CPP parliamentarian Cheam Yeap described as "the many guerrilla strategies of Cambodia's troops who have fought in many battles" may be insufficient to compensate for poor resources.
"These are modern times, most countries use computers and advanced systems," said SRP parliamentarian and former chairman of the National Assembly's defense committee Yim Sovann, who said corruption over military spending plagued an already rag-tag group.
"Yes, Cambodian troops have experience, but without resources, without salaries they can survive on, they can't do much. This is not an army for modern times."
25 comments:
Does anyone have any imformation or guess on what type of modern fighter planes that Cambodia will be getting and from what country? Chinese aircraft fighters? Russian aircraft fighters? US aircraft fighters?
Also, what new weapons and the what country will the new shipment come from?
What's you guys opinion?
Sun Sen is a communist so the clue of all these modern weapon coming from is Russia. Russia can give all kind of weapon to hun sen including nok. Russia want to build alliance agaist the U.S and European Union. Hun Sen big mouth agaist a not smart long nose because he want to fight with the U.S and European.
cambodia needs to take care of the soldiers.
"Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan. "But [our military will develop] with an orientation towards ... peacekeeping work since we have an obligation to help others achieve peace."
= Phay Siphan is a politician not a military expert! If Cambodia wants peace but other countries such Thailand and Vietnam don’t want peace and what good does that do to Cambodia? Let it be known since the beginning of time Cambodia was a peaceful neutral country and the Super Powers destroyed Cambodian peaceful neutral country in a blink of an eye with the Vietnam War and Cambodian leaders can’t afford this unfortunate event again! So it is a must that Cambodia must have strong military to balance the power of Thailand and Vietnam!
"Don't worry about their weapons, the Cambodian soldiers' strength is their experience as they've been in wars for decades," said Dien Del, a former military general who served under Lon Nol from 1970 to 1975.
= Dien Del is speaking the way of the Khmer Rouge leaders who would depend solely on human power instead of machine! This is the very reason why the Khmer Rouge leaders destroyed all modern equipments and machineries in Cambodia! So when the Vietcong invaded Cambodia with their air power using their jet fighters and these fucking Khmer Rouge soldiers shoot the jet fighters with Ak-47! Well, Phom Phen fell in 2 weeks to the Vietcong invaders! The Vietcong invaders began to loot everything in Cambodia and like ants they move anything valuable that they could find back to Vietnam day and night! It is the same way how Iraq invaded Kuwait and the Iraqi soldiers began to loot everything in sight!
"We are not competing with other countries for weapons, but without them we could become a victim,"
= Yes, it is true that if Cambodia doesn’t have lethal more advance weapon system and Cambodia is asking for trouble in the near future! Thailand and Vietnam wouldn’t be afraid to invade Cambodia to steal her richness! Cambodian history has shown that the Thai and the Vietnamese will loot from Cambodia again if given the chance!
"The bulk of Cambodia's current military stocks come from China and Russia, with a few also coming from the United States and France."
-It is true that pro-Western countries such Australia, United States, France don’t want to supply Cambodia with any lethal weapon because they might offend Thailand who is a long time ally and a business partner since the cold war!
Yim Sovann, who said corruption over military spending, plagued an already rag-tag group.
"Yes, Cambodian troops have experience, but without resources, without salaries they can survive on, they can't do much. This is not an army for modern times."
=This reminds of Lon Nol government that is so corrupted and his military is even willing to sell weapons to the enemy the Khmer Rouge! There used to be a slogan by the Khmer Rouge leaders who said that the Khmer Rouge need not to worry because the food is on the villagers and the weapons is on the enemy! The weak of Cambodian military mean that the Super powers can always asked Thailand or Vietnam to do regime change in Cambodia through military just like the Soviet Union sponsor Vietnam invasion of Cambodia to overthrow Pol Pot regime! It would be very foolish that Cambodian government think that Cambodian people can overthrow the Cambodian government through military mean!
The rape of Cambodia by more powerful military neighbors will continue!
If something happens Hun Sen and his family will to Hanoi to spend his retirement there. So he don't really care about how bad the state of the military is.
CPP senator.
To 12:38 AM
The most modern newest jet fighter is the fifth generation jet fighter!
Chinese aircraft fighters?
=The most modern Chinese jet fighter is the J-10!
China will produce the fifth generation jet fighter around 2015 and 2020.
Russian aircraft fighters?
= The most modern Russian jet fighter is the Russian SU-30MK
Russia will produce the fifth generation jet fighter around 2015 and 2020.
US aircraft fighters?
So far only United States who produces the fifth generation jet fighter such as F-22s and F-35s!
It's not the goal of the west to strengthen Cambodia military.
The American need the Viet to balance the growing power of China.
If the Cambodia become strong militarily the Viet will be sandwiched (Not good for the American strategy).
I agree because the Pro-Western power is only interest in containing China growing military power and they can't do it without the help of the Vietnamese or the Taiwanese. The Vietnamese military will stand to gain nothing but destruction to their country if they have the ambition to stop China! The use of military strategy to contain China is an out dated strategy.
3:13 AM
Just want to add that the American has military base in Thailand. So keeping Cambodia military weak would serve their purpose.
no matter how patriotism we are, I don't think these soldiers are ready to die for Ah CPP.
I wouldn't want a my dog to die for ah CPP.
It would be much cheaper for Cambodia to invest in missile technology to protect Cambodian from Thailand naked aggression!
The Russian made SA-300 surface to air missile system will guarantee Cambodian airspace free of Thai jet fighters for violating Cambodian sovereignty!
The underlying fact is that: WHEN MILITARY GROWS STRONG OUT OF AH IGNORANT, LOW-LIFE UNEDUCATIONAL CURRENT LEADERS CONTROL, THEN CAMBODIA CAN ONLY DREAM ABOUT HAVING RELIABLE MILIATRY TO DEFEND ITSELF.
LIKE ANIMALS USING ONLY THE INSTINCT, THE CURRENT LEADERS WILL CALL THE EXTINCTION OF CAMBODIA ALONG WITH THEIR DEATH!
Nobody can beat us when PM Hun Sen in charge. That's right, and I say it again, "Nobody .... ".
You can talk shit all you want but imagine what would be like if Sam Rainsy was in power instead when the dispute started. Sam Rainsy has no military background and would talk all he wants but when it comes to military politics, you all would see how incompetent he would be. For all I know, that guy could be on the plane to France and leave Cambodia and its people behind.
Remember Sam Rainsy has French citizenship, that means he has back-up plan if shit goes down unlike Hun Sen who has nowhere to go. Would you stick with people who will stay with you when shit goes down or stick with the guy who would flea any minute.
To the goof at 11:25 AM "Nobody can beat us when PM Hun Sen in charge" that because NO ONE want to beat YOU.
11:25 AM
IN CHARGE OF WHAT, IDIOT?!
I dare your PM to provocatively (again) at Thailand, and then wait and see what'll happen to you, your clown PM, and the rest.
I dare you -- again -- to tell him that. Oh! I forgot Manat is traslating for his blind father.
All of you are fucking ignorant. All of you are fucking maggot Yuon shit.
Do you know why Ah Hun Sen doesn't upgrade his military power?
First he is busy to siphone the money to his Swiss account.
Second he depends on Hanoi to help him when he has an emergency.
Third when Hanoi helps him out, he will sign more land to Hanoi for compensation.
American don't give a shit who is in charge in Cambodia. Hun Sen can do whatever he wants. American is interesting for oil and gas. You won't see democratic regime in Cambodia.
10:10 PM
Look when China beat the crap of Yuon you will supplicate me to do your mom for 500 riels.
I will tell you "NO" is want to do your virgin sisters instead.
The fun part is that I wouldn't need to beat you up to take back my land.
Most of our former modern aircraft and weapon provided by the americans during the 70's were stolen by the vietnamese during their occupation o fthe country.
Now, our PM Hun Sen is wise enough to play politics between the west (USA) and the East (China), so that our country can benefeat of both sides without being catch in one or other camp. It is a good way to stay neutral and to be friend with everybody. Our people is tired by war. However wait until at the end of the year 2008, you will be very surprised by the new arrival of modern weapons and jet fighters to come (except if it is not sold before with corruption...).
Also, for the new weapon, do we have enough personnel trained for it? Salary scale of the soldiers from private to general 4 stars: 20$ - 30$ - 50$ - 80$ - 110$ - 200 $ - 400$ - 500$ - 600$ - 700$ (4stars...). No wonder with nobody is motivated to die for average income of 30$/per month (when it is paid...).
Cambodia army have the latest machine and weapons . I saw them myself. 2008 hummers and bottles of hennesy
Since when Cambodian Soldier good at fighting the invading enemy?
We are good at fighting and killing each others, that's the trade mark!
Wow, just take a look at this modern gun (weapons) that khmer soldier aiming? watch out Thailand...!
I wonder if this rusted work...? or Fire..? they must pick up this guns from the dumpster...?
I wonder if this rusted gun ever work?
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