14% of the national budget will be allocated to defense, including the upkeep of Brigade B-70 (Left), Hun Sen's private bodyguards unit, in stark contrast to the 1.7% budget spent on agriculture, Cambodia's economic backboneBy Ek Madra
PHNOM PENH, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Cambodia, one of Southeast Asia's poorest countries, plans to boost defense and security spending by 23 percent next year, its budget showed on Saturday, raising the prospect of a clash with the IMF.
Cambodia plans to spend $274 million on defense and security next year, up from $223 million this year, the budget showed. The total budget for calendar 2010 was $1.97 billion, which meant the military was allocated about 14 percent of total spending.
That compares with 1.7 percent spent on agriculture, the backbone of Cambodia's economy, and 0.7 percent on water resources. About 1.7 percent was set aside for rural development.
Military spending is a sensitive topic in Cambodia because of the millions of dollars of donor money flowing into the country, largely to social programmes.
"This big budget for defense is meant for preventative measures in response to international conflicts," said government spokesman Phay Siphan.
Siphan said the spending was unrelated to tensions with neighbouring Thailand over land surrounding a 900-year-old, cliff-top Hindu temple known as Preah Vihear. Skirmishes in the border area have killed seven troops in the past year.
Thailand is challenging a U.N. decision to make the temple a world heritage site under Cambodian jurisdiction. Cambodia was awarded the temple in a 1962 international court ruling that did not determine who owns 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) next to it.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) criticised Cambodia last year for its military spending, leading the Cambodian government to cut back its defense budget during a debate in parliament after questioning by the IMF.
"Donors will not be happy," Ou Vireak, head of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, said of the latest military budget.
He said Prime Minister Hun Sen was likely trying to whip up nationalist support by projecting an image of a strong military at a time of heightened tension with Thailand.
"By doing so, he is turning the country effectively into a military state," he said.
(Editing by Jason Szep and Dean Yates)
Cambodia plans to spend $274 million on defense and security next year, up from $223 million this year, the budget showed. The total budget for calendar 2010 was $1.97 billion, which meant the military was allocated about 14 percent of total spending.
That compares with 1.7 percent spent on agriculture, the backbone of Cambodia's economy, and 0.7 percent on water resources. About 1.7 percent was set aside for rural development.
Military spending is a sensitive topic in Cambodia because of the millions of dollars of donor money flowing into the country, largely to social programmes.
"This big budget for defense is meant for preventative measures in response to international conflicts," said government spokesman Phay Siphan.
Siphan said the spending was unrelated to tensions with neighbouring Thailand over land surrounding a 900-year-old, cliff-top Hindu temple known as Preah Vihear. Skirmishes in the border area have killed seven troops in the past year.
Thailand is challenging a U.N. decision to make the temple a world heritage site under Cambodian jurisdiction. Cambodia was awarded the temple in a 1962 international court ruling that did not determine who owns 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) next to it.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) criticised Cambodia last year for its military spending, leading the Cambodian government to cut back its defense budget during a debate in parliament after questioning by the IMF.
"Donors will not be happy," Ou Vireak, head of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, said of the latest military budget.
He said Prime Minister Hun Sen was likely trying to whip up nationalist support by projecting an image of a strong military at a time of heightened tension with Thailand.
"By doing so, he is turning the country effectively into a military state," he said.
(Editing by Jason Szep and Dean Yates)
29 comments:
The gov. should pass a law making military service mandatory to all Khmers between, say 19 to 30 years old. Teach them weapons handling and more importantly DISCIPLINE which the Khmers need so bad.
1:37Am - strongly agree with you. This is the only way to prepare the nation against the aggressions from the Eastern and Western neighbouring states.
Long live to the Khmer nation!
And by the way, don't fall into yuon trap by accusing Hun Sen as traitor. Yuons forced Hun Sen to sign all those treaties. If Hun Sen refused, yuons would kill him like they did to Chan Si, or put him in jail like they did to Pen Sovann.
If we don't have strong and better organized armed forces, we will remain at the mercy of youns secret agents and army infiltrating inside Cambodian governmnet.
Donors:
You must CEASE all donations to Cambodia.
For some countries, for instance, we've taught them how to fish rather then giving them fish--and they have become self-sufficient; however, Cambodia , in this case, is too dumb and stupid to teach them how to fish. Therefore, let's not give them or teach them how to fish. Now, it's time to be sufficient; we don't want to babysit you anymore. Furthermore, if Cambodia can increase its defense expendicture, they don't need our donations.
1:37 AM & 2:11 AM
You should teach your people and government learn how to not abuse your own people, and learn how to be self-sufficient, and not rely on other nations to your support you. Your government must wake up and smell the reality, and stop lying to your people.
2:22 AM
It's too late.
One wrong move, Mr. Hun Sen is over, and his families and friends will be victimized by the people of Cambodia.
You guys above make me laugh;
If you're proud of your nation then does it not strike you what a complete waste of money this is compared to the puny 1.7% on agriculture and water development? The vast majority of Cambodians are rural subsistence rice farmers who need investment in increasing yields of rice and being able to plant more than one crop a year. All this consipracy bull about yuon secret agents e.t.c is bonkers. Do you even think this amount of money would deter the likes of Vietnam and Thailand in the very unlikely case of actual war? Cambodia has no freaking air force, you need billions of investment to catch up with the Thais and Vietnamese. This is just Hun Sen maintaining his control through lining the pockets of the army who support him. The Cambodian people need a government who care about the majority and not just themselves and their families. My heart sinks when I read news like this. Invest in f@~}}{ agriculture and irrigation!!
Cambodia must increase military cooperations with China. We need Chinese military advisers in Cambodia to "flush" out the yuon agents and soldiers hiding inside Cambodia.
King ta Sihanouk, one last thing you can do for your Kingdom, ask China to save Cambodia from Hanoi now before it is too late.
2:27AM – Perhaps, Cambodians should partly if not entirely blame you and your (Thai) government. If your government leaves us alone, then we would be able to focus our effort on economic development and strengthen our country against Vietnamization.
You (Thai) may laugh at us, you may bully us or take advantage of us, but let me tell you this:
IF WE LOOSE, YOU LOOSE!
For all those years, we have shielded your country from a lot of troubles. Do you think that your country can live in peace with Indochina Federation state at your border? I urge you to give a serious thought about that. Now go home, and discuss my comments with your inexperience PM Abhisit or his cabinet.
2:30 AM
China and Kingdom of Cambodia have a bilateral agreement. China supports the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Khmer people.
2:54AM - then, please do something about it, China. Cambodia needs you and will be for ever grateful for your support.
2:27 AM
I agree with you, my friend.
You raised a very good and practical point.
Manet,
Did you see 2:54AM comment? Please tell your father that China is offering a way out. Cambodia does not have to live under Hanoi patronage or shackle!
well, with the wake of siem threat, cambodia, as a nation have to have a strong military for national defense, etc., really, although it was stated not a reaction to siem dispute, but more of a national right to boost the national defense strategy. it's a wake up call for cambodia as a nation, really! of course, national defense isn't the only expenses out there. that said, we can't ignore national defense, either, you know! when the last time cambodia get any kind of modern weaponry? i say, good for cambodia. god bless cambodia.
It is a good thing that Cambodia government must beef up military spending in the face of Thailand naked aggression! It is doesn't matter how much the Cambodian government want to spend on the military and it some way it does help Cambodian economy by employing those Cambodian soldiers.
Cambodian government doesn't need to spend in the billion as much as Thailand or Vietname because this is about deterrence! But in the near future Cambodian government will have to spend in the billion to catch up in acquiring key technologies such jet fighters, long range missiles, and tank, and ship and submarines to deter Thailand and Vietnam naked aggression!
At this stage in the game, It is wishful thinking for Thailand to invade Cambodia to destabilize the whole South East Asia! It seems that Thailand is bragging about their modern weapon and jet fighters...on and on! ahahhahahhah
There are conventional warfare and unconventional warfare! Let say that Thailand occupies the whole Cambodia tomorrow, there is no way that Thailand can control Cambodia entirely because of the terrain which is way different from Iraq! Take Vietnam as an example for occupying Cambodia for 10 years with the help of HUN SEN government which pro-Vietnam and they still withdraw from Cambodia! Now tell me of any Cambodian pro-Thailand? ahahhahhah But don't forget that Vietnam got Soviet Union to support them and what about Thailand and who would support Thailand in occupying Cambodia? ahhahahhahhahahah
If Thailand touchs Cambodia and they are touching a spider web and they will be entangled until they draw their last breath! I say to Thai military leaders don't be stupid and don't intoxicate too much in your superior complex and learn from Vietnam experience!
Remember! Communism die in Cambodia not in Vietnam! If Thailand want to die in Cambodia too and they are more than welcome and go ahead show off your superior complex!
Thailand is a dog without teeth. It knows it can never risk to have a war with Cambodia because it has so much to lose and nothing to gain.
Thais like to brag about who they are and what they have. That is all i know about these ignorant.
This is what cambodia needed to do, upgrading her militray power and modernize weaponary, to protect our country from aggressor Neighbors like: Siam/YOUNs...Thailand had look down on us and taken advantaged on us for along time, they have treated cambodia as piece of TRASH on the dirt....vietnamese always keep lowprofile, and very dangerous enemy...
Because of the weakness cambodia has, that's why these aggressor neighbors kept swallowed our terriotory: lands, waters, islands, our KOH TRAL, KOH KUT and many many more of our islands were taken away by these aggressor Neighbors....
Cambodia is small, but do need strong militray!!
correction = territory
It is my sincere hope that the bilateral agreement between the two natioins does not lead to the institution of another Chinese province. Perhaps,however, Cambodian people need a new political landscape for the country's prosperity and economic growth, if they have to sacrifice our country to avert from the Vietnamese ambition to swallow our country.
Unemployed worker in Phnom Penh
I believe with poster #1 totally. Cambodia must requires all males who reaches age 18 to train for National Service Program with an option to an active member for Selective Service after that in case the country needs them for age between 18-32. The ones select to be an active member for the nation should give preferential benefits for the work in government. The program should allows them five years to complete their training or face penalty for community service or jail term after repeating failings. It is the right time to do it because Cambodia lives among unfriendly nations. It is also to keep them kids busy from causing trouble and for the so lacking discipline in our society, for which, we need so much to bring Cambodia to next step of development. This is a long term investment. In order for Cambodia to continue growing, her nation first need to be secured...
Thank you guys for all your thoughtful and maturity in this forum concerning our nation building. We need all of you and everyone who can participate in rebuilding our country from the Siamese and Vietnamese invasions. All in all, Cambodia wishes to be a nation of peace... but to achieve that we have to be strong ourselves...
11:27 PM
What about using the bilateral agreement with the Chinese to rebuild our nation--it's the only hope--otherwise forget about buildig the country; the Yuons are the major obstacle to building Cambodia.
On a lighter note, the former Cambodian king just turned 87 yesterday (Trick or Treater), and, of course, he has a few years to live, until then, he can use his remaining time to pursuade the Chinese to do something for the country before exiting this world, and, of course, this will put the Yuons in akward position.
Unemployed worker in Phnom Penh
If the government is seriously contemplating about reducing the poverty level in the cash-strapped country (Cambodia), the government ought to curtail the future military expendicture and increase expendicture in the agragian sector.
Unemployed worker in Phnom Penh
I prefer Khmer country to belong to Youn than the chiness for they are the one behind the killing field. One question to ask where do the mines, bombs, tanks, other amunistions or artileries come from? They were all made from china off cause. The Chiness said to the king " if you want to be king forever, you must eliminate all the intellectual people starting from babies in craddle of these families (roots of it)", Most khmer people still have evidences to prove it and it is speading around the secret agents that Chiness were behind the killing field. Chairman Moa Se Tong's Dictatorship passes onto this mad King of Sihanock! This stupit king on the other hand doesn't care of no one but himself, not even his own children! most of his children had to live without their father as their father is too busy having sex with all other virgins girls being offered to him all around the world because he was a king! a king who only know how to steal from poor innocent khmer people! and then being brain washed by him and his party that he is the God of God and King of King. He committed alot of crimes against humanity. His dead will be judge by millions including the nobel soul of the monk who taught him right from wrong ended up murdered by him.
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