Radio Free Asia
By Zakariya
5th November, 2008
Translated by Khmerization
Khmer soldiers who are posted along the borders in Koh Kong province and Samlaut district in Battambang province have appealed on Tuesday 4th for more food to be provided to the soldiers who are stationed along the borders.
A soldiers, who is posted along the borders at Koh Kong Mountain or Mount One Hundred and who want to remain anonymous, has said that the 40 soldiers posted in the area are appealing to the leaders to provide them with more food. He said: “When we arrived here, we did not have anything to eat. We only had 2 Bra fish to eat and every night we have to go fishing and catching fishes for our food.”
The same soldier added: “We appeal to the government to eliminate corruption so that our soldiers won’t be starved anymore.”
A soldier posted at the borders at Samlaut district in Battambang province have said similar thing like the soldiers from Koh Kong. He said: “We don’t have enough food to eat. In one month we received one kilogram of fish paste (prahok) and 10 packets of instant noodles for 8-10 soldiers. Some of us went to bring food from home or money from home to buy food.”
He added: “We want to request to the government to pay attention to our food supplies. We don’t want much, just instant noddles, canned fish, canned food and other foods just enough for us to survive.”
Radio Free Asia cannot contact commander of the Koh Kong border areas for the comments.
But commander of the Intervention Forces of Division 12, Gen. Srey Doek, said that there is no problem with the food supplies to the soldiers protecting the borders. He said: “It is normal. There is no problem”.
Borders soldiers, including those from the Preah Vihear regions, have been posted along the borders for more than 3 months. Other than supports from the government, they have received supports from the people inside Cambodia as well as overseas Khmers.
An official of the Ministry of Defence, Gen. Neang Phat, has acknowledged that the salary of Khmer soldiers are still low.
The government has just announced the doubling of the national defence budget for 2009 to $US500 million.//
15 comments:
This is just outrageous of this fucking Ah Hun's government.
I say: now it's time for your fucking administration to take care of your poverished soldiers.
Please do not believe this news. Cambodian Armed Forces under great leadership of Samdech Akka Moha Sena Dejo Hun Sen is well equiped, well trained, well fed, and they are very brave with all the magic protection.
Let these soldiers ask Samdech Hun Sen when they need things, because they obey Hun Sen only.
Cambodia should improve the conditions of the soldiers whether or not they are stationed in the battle zone or in their barracks. We have neglected them for quite sometimes now because we never contemplate a war with anyone. The Preah Vihear military confrontation with Thailand is unexpected, but Cambodia did well to protect our sovereignty despite our inferior army.
But i wish to point out a number of things: in peaceful times, we focus on development, the reduction of poverty, the improvement of education and health care. We don't waste money on arms. But in a war time, we spend all money on arms. We are not at war now but we must prepare ourself.
To that end, Cambodia does not the ability to buy arms while also reducing poverty, improving education and health care. We need the support of the international community. But sadly, a number of Khmer individual, notably: Sam Rainsy, Kem Sokha, and Lao Hay who are inducing the EU and American not to increase aids to Cambodia.
I don't want to see another PAD-style opposition party in Cambodia. These opposition are snakes, traitor who would not stop at nothing to criticize Khmer, to ban aids to poor people and for the development of the nation and to take political advantage in a period of national crisis.
I yearn for the days when they stop their stupid politics in Cambodia.
it is outrageous. just food they can provide to our soldiers who are protecting our nation. how can we fight against the Thai with jet fighters, tanks helicopters and they earn good salary and eat well. i feel very sorry for these soldiers. if the army generals and army leaders are so corrupt like this, even $500 million defense budget will not do any good because all the money will disappear into the pockets of corrupt generals and army leaders. and it is the ordinary soldiers who sacrifice their life are the ones who will suffer. sad really.
Khmer soldier,
Thank you for your hard work and dedication to our beloved country and history.
Also, if the CPP regime doesn't take care of you. Maybe it time to raise your voice against them. Let them know that the CPP can also be taken down.
Time for a change in cambodia also, not just america.
I find it hard to believe this news. I start to suspect this is just a ploy by some political opposition to discredit the government. I have family in the military and I know for a fact that each soldier gets bag of rice. It looks like snake once you fill the rice in it. and they have noodles, canned fish, etc...
I highly HIGHLY doubt that any soldier is being refused necessities like food by their commanders. This is not Pol Pot era. The only reason why some soldiers would complain is because he finds it more convenient if people go to his posts and bring him the food instead of just making the trips to get food from the barracks where the cooks prepare everyday. I have witnessed this case before.
But, I am not at the front so I can't say with 100 percent of confidence but just saying what I've know being having my family in the military since the fall of Pol Pot.
My beloved 6:19PM!
You are highly and scholarly genuine of the Khmer PoliSick!
I am hopeful you friendly don't mind that I am delightfully adding a few magnificent lines of Samdech Hun SenVarman's mighty accomplishments...
Hun SenVarman and his CPP's folks will always be had power and money as long as the Opposition parties are weak or none of them in Srok Khmer.
Hun SenVarman is unearhtly and unconditionally loved the people of Khmer and the Khmer nation, because he was insanely say if the donors nation would stop donating money, "Hun Sen won't die first!".
to 6:19 PM,
Regarding about kem sohka and other politicians informing the EU stopping aid to cambodia. This is not politic. Its doing the right thing my brother. Aids are meant for the needy right.? But most of these aids doesn't get to the needy, almost never ! Very sad !
Most the foreign aids from the EU or other country is done from doing the right thing to help those who needs it! Went it doesn't go into the right people who need it. Someone should mentioned it. If you 6:19pm was in the shoe of kem sokha, sam rainsy, and lao mong hay. You should let the world know also. I would.
If you 6:19 PM who in need or your family who are in need of these aids. You wouldn't be wasting time complaining about these khmer politician. Beside complaining, have u done any thing for khmer? Especially those who in need of help or just cambodia alone?
Stop being foolish and start to unite and help out.
It's just lack of leadership and management. I served 4 yrs with the US Army. If I was the leader here, I would have a group of cook soldiers cook and the soldiers take turn eating. 50% standing guard, while 50% eating, and take turn. The cook soldiers will serve food, and the fighters do not need to worry about what to cook. I would have a little temporary kitchen with tables for the soldiers. Like tables in tents. That's how it should be done.
7:59PM,
The news is not hard to believe. In fact it is easy to believe. Maybe the government did provide enough food but the corrupt generals are the ones who took their food supplies and ask their wives to sell in the market. You said you got some relatives in the army. Are they generals, colonels or officers or are they just ordinary soldiers? Someone in this forum said before that he got his relatives in the army, an officers, and they told him that they took the army supplies and let their wives sell them in the market. I believe what these soldiers said. I don't believe the corrupt generals like Gen. Srey Doek. I believe that their food supplies are taken by corrupt military leaders and they sell them in the markets.
Very sad to hear.
The only well fed n equiped are the vietnamese soldier that kept Hun sen in line. If you guys want to know how much a life Khmer soldier have try visit them and see it. In Cambodia only the Vietnamese are heavily armed to keep the rest of Cambodians in line.
Sad to hear that Khmer soldiers at the frontilne do not have enough food.
Hun Sen should review the Khmer Saying: "Thveu Sre neung TeK Thveu Sek neung Bay". (Rice Farming needs Water; Fighting a War needs Rice Supply)
This this basic need of very human being.
The solddiers'loyalty, spirit of nationalism, and sacrifices are ditermined by this very simple Saying.
I Think the Government has supply enough food for the frontline soldiers. But Corruption is cropping along the way and food was diverted to the market by some of the high-ranking Commanders.
Be mindful! In such a situation where The Siams troops have sufficient supply of verything whereas it is insufficient for the Khmer soldiers, The Siams will buy the loyalty and spirit of nationalism out of the Khmers Soldiers, who will turn the guns at their own Khmer nation. History has also witnessed this similar situation in the war tactics.
Hope the worst thing will not happen to Cambodia.
K.Chun
To all the soldiers at the border.IF your govt neglect you ,just turn your guns at them.
I MYSELF WAS ONE TIME KHMER ARMY FOR KHMER ROUGE IN CAMBODIA. KHMER ROUGE ARMY NEVER STARVE DUE TO SHORTAGE OF FOOD, KHMER ROUGE WERE CARE THEIR ARMY AND ITS COUNTRY.
ALL KHMER SOLDIER
KILL TWO OR MORE YOUR HIGH RANGE COMMANDER.
FOOD WILL COME WITH CARE.
Post a Comment