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| An army official stands in front of a group of new recruits in Kandal province on Sunday, July 17, 2011. The army is hoping to add thousands of soldiers to its ranks. (Photo: Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer) |
Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer | Phnom Penh
“If neighboring countries invade our country, we would be destroyed. That why we have to volunteer.”
The Cambodian military has added 3,000 new recruits to bolster its ranks, and to replace retiring soldiers.
Recruitment efforts are underway to select soldiers for four separate divisions, along with a special unit based in Kratie province, said Chhum Socheat, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense.
Chhum Socheat said the recruitment drive was looking for volunteers, not conscripts. “We need quality, not quantity,” he said.
The recruitment drive comes amid a tense border standoff with Thailand that is now more than three years old. The standoff over land near Preah Vihear temple prompted an outpouring of public support for the Cambodian military, but the International Court of Justice ordered a provisional demilitarization zone on Monday.
The border conflict has meant little opposition to a growing military, despite persistent problems in public health, education and other sectors.
“We should have soldiers to protect the border, because neighboring countries always have an ambition to invade Cambodia,” Yim Sovann, a spokesman for the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, told VOA Khmer.
Lao Monghay, an independent analyst, said the new recruits should not be taken all at once.
“This is a new strategy to protect national security, and we don’t have the number of military soldiers,” he said. “It is difficult to support the soldiers.”
On Sunday, military officials in Kandal province oversaw a recruitment drive there for a special unit. Po Samdy, a two-star general and deputy commander of the unit, thanked the youths and their families “for helping protect our country.”
Sem Sokleng, 22, who stood among other freshly crew-cut youths, said he had joined to protect Cambodia from “invasion.”
“I’m brave, and I want to share that with all Cambodian people,” he said.
“If neighboring countries invade our country, we would be destroyed,” said Bok Sinat, 24. “That why we have to volunteer.”
Bres Leng, 53, said he had a son who was volunteering for the unit.
“Former soldiers have allowed their sons to be soldiers,” he said.
Neang Khen, a two-star general and commander of the infantry for Region 41, told VOA Khmer he needed to add 1,000 more soldiers to his ranks to protect the border.
“A while ago, we modernized, but we don’t have enough soldiers because of aging soldiers,” he said. “So we have to replace the retired soldiers only.”
57 comments:
what is with Vietnam?
Why they've to join the CPP. So they're gonna be slave to Yuon like the rest of CPP too.
Vietnam is next. We will fight one enemy one at a time. We can not fight both front at the same for the obvious reason: we are small, and weak still.
job creation for the unemployed?
The Vietnamese recruiting young Khmer to be brainwashed like the rest of the CPP. The Vietnamese armed and trained the young Khmer to fight Thai, so all Khmer people will be killed and the Vietnamese will get a free land.
Thai is not a threat to Cambodia right now is the Vietnamese controlling everything in Cambodia using and manipulating Khmer minds to thinks that Thai invaded Cambodia. Thai protected and saved Preah Vihear temple from the Khmer Rouge destruction.
I dear ah CPP have a guts to fight with ah Yuon. If they do I'll give them gredit otherwise I'm still considered them the dogs Yuon for the rest of these lifes.
About 100,000 Vietnamese troops already stations close to Thai border, we don't needed to recruit new Khmer soldiers.
What happen to 100,000 Khmer soldiers listed on papers, may be it was just a paper soldiers, ghost soldiers or Hun Sen's Personal Security Forces.
To: 4:14PM
What you said in your post is a real possibilty.
It sound some of us still live in a ghetto town, did not know the different between national and personal interest.
The RACF is not belonging to the CPP. This is a National Army Force. They have the duty to protect our country.
All of us can joint the RACF, in case someone want to protect our country.
The older soldiers have already been promoted to Major, Colonel, or General, so the Cambodian Army needs new privates.
I am happy to hear this news. It is a sign of change in Khmer society. These new soldiers have new ideas about their country in danger, corruptions of govt., and their parents' lands were robbed.
Must be another K5?
the real cpp soldiers with heavy military materials are yuons. These poor khmers are recruited to be killed just like during the "K5" killing program after the killing field.
Yuons need to kill more Khmer endlessly till they rest so few as chams or Khmer krom people
Cambodia Town
Long Beach, California
The newly recruit will be seriuosly training, well equip before sending them to front line.
New Phally
Vietnam has taken over 30 000km2 of Cambodia so far but no goverment military dare to protect Cambodia from Vietnam invasion at all. Why ?
To be honest! These fuckers that just stand in the picture are just die to protect Hun Sen, Hun SEn 's families not the real khmer nation. These fuckers just die to protect Hun Sen groups to be more richer.
They are standing there to die for Hun Sen, not Cambodia.
Ask what you can do for your country, but don't ask what country can do for you and your family when you are disable.
Good luck and God bless you all new foot soldiers!!!
Koh Tral Island must not be forgotten
By Ms. Rattana Keo
Why do Koh Tral Island, known in Vietnam as Phu Quoc, a sea and land area covering proximately over 30,000 km2 [Note: the actual land size of Koh Tral itself is 574 square kilometres (222 sq miles)] have been lost to Vietnam by whose treaty? Why don’t Cambodia government be transparent and explain to Cambodia army at front line and the whole nation about this? Why don't they include this into education system? Why?
Cambodian armies are fighting at front line for 4.6 km2 on the Thai border and what's about over 30,000km2 of Cambodia to Vietnam. Nobody dare to talk about it! Why? Cambodian armies you are decide the fate of your nation, Cambodian army as well as Cambodian people must rethink about this again and again. Is it fair?
Koh Tral Island, the sea and land area of over 30,000 square kilometres have been lost to Vietnam by the 1979 to 1985 treaties. The Cambodian army at front line as well as all Cambodian people must rethink again about these issues. Are Cambodian army fighting to protect the Cambodia Nation or protecting a very small group that own big lands, big properties or only protecting a small group but disguising as protecting the Khmer nation?
The Cambodian army at front lines suffer under rain, wind, bullets, bombs, lack of foods, lack of nutrition and their families have no health care assistance, no securities after they died but a very small group eat well, sleep well, sleep in first class hotel with air conditioning system with message from young girls, have first class medical care from oversea medical treatments, they are billionaires, millionaires who sell out the country to be rich and make the Cambodian people suffer everyday.
Who signed the treaty 1979-1985 that resulted in the loss over 30,000 km2 of Cambodia??? Why they are not being transparent and brave enough to inform all Cambodians and Cambodian army at front line about these issues? Why don't they include Koh Tral (Koh Tral size is bigger than the whole Phom Phen and bigger than Singapore [Note: Singapore's present land size is 704 km2 (271.8 sq mi)]) with heap of great natural resources, in the Cambodian education system?
Look at Hun Sen's families, relatives and friends- they are billionaires, millionaires. Where did they get the money from when we all just got out of war with empty hands [in 1979]? Hun Sen always say in his speeches that Cambodia had just risen up from the ashes of war, just got up from Year Zero with empty hands and how come they are billionaires, millionaires but 90% of innocent Cambodian people are so poor and struggling with their livelihood every day?
Smart Khmer girl, President Ms. Rattana Keo,
Adding 3 thousand more soldiers still not enough to defeat the neighboring country. Chhum Socheat should bolster more of the modern weapon technology maybe they will be able to defend against the invading country in the future. Ckhourt Joi mrai ah lop hun sen
All innocent Cambodian people look at frontline soldiers, are there any top range CPP and rich kids in there to face bullets with enemy ? So who are the coward rich kids and top range CPP or Poor innocent Cambodian people ?
When the country in trouble Hun Sen CPP group using poor innocent Cambodian people as shield to protect them but when come to promotion or money only a very small group of CPP can be benefit, not the khmer face bullets at frontline. Is that true people ?
4:16PM,
Vietnam is next? my butt!
The real invaders are all inside Cambodia already due to Ah Kwack's action. It does not matter to him as long as he has that Prime minister job. He has allowed Yuon to take everything because he believes when he dies, he will take that Prime Minister job with him to hell.
Sdach Chamkuot Sihanouk must stop giving title Samdach to Ah Maneus Khbot Cheat.
9:25 PM
If you're going to (half) quote from someone (e.g., JFK), then name the source.
You're being disrespectful abashedly, and you should be ashamed of yourself.
Pi Anh
...was told by someone who has recently came back from Cambodia for a visit that the illegal vietcong boats floating in Cambodia are vietcong spies and soldiers; they are fully armed! These secret soldiers are most active at night.
It is a great feeling, yet benign to see a growing delusional paranoia and
paranoid schizophrenia among the notorious opposition supporters. These supporters are insensitive, insensible and irresponsible, yet callous; plus, cannot be trusted, because they cannot be counted as countrymen.
Pi Anh
កូនខ្មែររួមឈាមជាទីស្រឡាញ់! មនសិការរបស់កូន
ចៅក្នុងការពារទឹកដីនិងការពារពូជសាសន៍ខ្មែរឱយ
ស្ថិតនៅគង់វង្សនោះពិតជាត្រឹមត្រូវហើយក៏ជាកាត្តព្វកិច្ចរបស់កូនខ្មែរម្នាក់ៗដែរ។ តែនៅក្នុងពេលនេះកាលៈទេសៈនេះ គួរតែកូនចៅកុំទាន់យកមនសិការនៃកូនចៅគ្រប់គ្នាទៅបំរើជាតិអី? ព្រោះពេលវេលាដែលកូនចៅត្រូវបំពេញនោះពុំទាន់បានមកដល់នៅឡើយទេ។ បើកូនចៅហ៊ានយកដើមទ្រូងទៅការពារទឹកដីនៅពេលនេះគឺស្លាប់ចោលកូនប្រពន្ធឥតប្រយោជន៍ទេកូនចៅ ពីព្រោះថាអ្នកដឹកនាំប្រទេសយើងសព្វថ្ងៃជាមេចុរហារូយ, ជាមនុស្សកញ្ជៈយួនដាច់ថ្លៃ, ហើយជាឃាតករបានសម្លាប់ខ្មែរជាងបីលាននាក់ជាមួយក្រុម ប៉ុល ពតដែរ។ ដូច្នេះកូនចៅគួរនាំគ្នាគេចខ្លួនហើយរកស៊ីធម្មតាសិនចុៈទម្រាំពេលវេលាមួយដែលខ្មែរយើងមានរដ្ឋាភិបាលមួយល្អរត្រឹមត្រូវ ពេលនោះហើយដែលកូនចៅត្រូវតែនាំគ្នាបំពេញនូវ
កត្តព្វកិច្ចរៀងៗខ្លួន។ នេះជាបណ្តាំនៃព្រលឹងរបស់លោកសេនាប្រមុខ លុន នុល៚៚៚
PEE Ach.
Just sick to see your comment by accident.
Next time when you write, put your name at the top so people can skip your comment.
10:33 PM
Why don't you tape your mouth, ah puok refugee.
Pi Anh
10:32 PM
You're fucking traitor.
Would you rather to have us introduce conscription?
Pi Anh
Pi Anh is one of ah Hun Sen's barking dogs, being well fed. The notorious traitors are you bosses: Hun Sen, Heng Samrin, Chea Sim, and many more of the like. You should be ashamed of yourself, living in a country of democracy and freedom, yet categorize yourself as one the dispecable
cocks suckers of the traitors. What is your pride? Being a cock sucker???
Soon the new 'recruit' will be proud 'trainees,' and yes, these soon-to-be-trained soldiers will crush puok ah refugees.
Pi Anh
I don't need to reply my comment to Pi-Anh,Pi-Ong, or PE-U what soever, Sound like VN. Some body already did.
Did JFK say, "don't ask what country can do for you and your family when YOUR ARE DISABLE."
12:20 AM
Yet another dumb and stupid refugee!
You called it a "quality education," when you're stealing someone else's work.
Pi Anh
You have no better quality than we refugees do. And no refugges have ever asked for any assitance from you either, fool. A rich man like yourself is no better than a rogue!
Register to serve THMIL(Hun Sen)Is the same thing to serve khmer rouge Pol Pot(none senses)because not for the country,but in the reverse if we destroy civilian youn or under cover youn that living in Cambodia that is your duties and for your country.
khmersott
refugees send hundred of million of US dollar to Cambodia each year.
Cambodians in Cambodia are fed by refugee in oversea.
Do not be disgraceful. Many of you are Yuon's slaves.
Can we keep giving PI-Anh high blood pressure dosage by making more comments.
Any comment we can do to push him or her to jump off the cliff.
Poor Anh with Phnom Penh University degree. This refugee even have had one without going that school. Just doing prior arrangement with the University's faculty Dean and fly to Cambodia put on graduation gown and here a big degree. Now it is hang in my bathroom.
Pi Anh=Jom Neahn Kar Youn=youn expert=khmer kbarl youn=khmer contagious sickness to destroy Cambodia
Pi Anh uses Dong (or Dong dumb)
Refugees use dollar ($)
CPP-Viet cong and its cronies, Pi Anh included survive on foreign assistance($), stealing from the country, and engaging in illegal activties in Cambodia.
Pi Anh's head has been sold!
Who is Pi Anh?
When Chinese boats about to attack Youn boat on Spratly and parcels islands Pi Anh really piss,and got the stroke.
1:48 AM
Almost the moneys, oversea Khmer sent ( not officially transfer ) to cambodia has lost all value. It is just like a money laundry system.
youn is using khmer to fight thai.
khmer should uses thai to fight youns.
Khmer girls fuck with White ass to get money to buy crap, hahaha
My cap goes off to these newly recruits. Again, I'd like to offer my sincere congratulations. You made your country proud.
ALL of you who are residing overseas should be ashamed of yourselves. Yes, puok ah refugee traitors should start killing yourselves.
On behalf of the Cambodian government,I'd like to be blunt and unequivocally clear to the critics who are critical of the government with these words: SCREW ALL OF YOU.
Pi Anh
Foolish Cambodians. You don't need more soldiers to make your army grow in order to protect your country. Vietnam invaded Cambodia back in 1979 and is in complete control of it ever since!
That's the way ah Hun Sen, whose cock ah Pi Anh sucks evryday, paves his way towards grabbing absolute power. And ah Pi And will get some dired bines to lick too.
Please keep your comments coming.
Pi Anh
After you are all Finnish the military school turn all your cannons to all youn it doesn't matters civilian or soldiers,Good youn is death youn.
Pi Anh poojyoun
To Pi Anh = Pee Ass,
You are the murderer and sell out Cambodia to Vietnam cheap cheap! that is why we are keep running out of Cambodia to seek refugee from Good democracy countries around the world.
May God kille the devil group of Pi Anh as soon as possible. THey are the scum living to suck Cambodian people blood and make 95% of Cambodian people are living in suffering.
Pi Anh groups are the traitor group, they sell Cambodia to be richer and they use innocent Cambodian people as their shield to protect them.
Coward group of Pi Anh, why don't you just fight at frongline and take the bullets if you are dare as you say.
Pi Anh if you are brave don't hide your true identity.
Coward Pi Anh CPP cock sucker, you and your groups are living by suck CPP cocks.
Scum, paraside, devil Pi Anh Cock sucker
Pi Anh = scum
cambodia must call for reform in our armed forces, too, ok!
The 50 years Khmer people will
become refugees,the newcomers
in ghost Cambodia will be Viet-
namese.
Some nations grow and die out.
The Vietnam empire arises and
falls apart.This is the circle
of nature.
All Khmer Armed Forces, if you can be genuinly of patriotic service to Cambodia, our beloved country, it is great.
Now, I need to further study your cynical comments for my future strengths and weaknesses assessment.
Remember to understand yourself and your enemy, and never underestimate your enemy's tenacity.
ALL OF YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A BUNCH OF TRAITORS.
Again, please keep your comments flowing.
Pi Anh
KI and its supporters are nothing more fire starters; it welcomes its sustainer members'cynical comments in an effort to demonize and derail the country and government. This group of people like to engage in uncivilized activity, yet lack of decorum.
Moreover, I find this particular group rather egregiously deplorable, yet despicable and grossly disgusted. It is of utmost importance that this group of individuals must be cleansed and flushed out.
Pi Anh
Khmer Krom is fine as it is. These people are happy where they are. There's no need for change. And forget about "reclaiming" this part of the country as Cambodia, because Khmer Krom has ALWAYS been a part of Vietnam.
And, yes, you can tell Ah puok refugees Keo Chan and Ah Dr. Chang to forget about the petition. These two individuals are ancessantly and abashedly using the Hampton Buddhist temple ground as a launch pad to have Ah refugees to petition in an effort to reclaim Khmer Krom. FORGET IT! THE CHANCES ARE LESS THAN ZERO (0).
Pi Anh
There were 2,000,000 refugees in
the world(1979-1995).
But after 1995 Khmer people were/
are flowing out to look for jobs,
they are not refugees:80,000 Khmer
legal workers sending by Hun Sen
to Thailand.
Cambodians found jobs in South
Korea,in Taiwan,in Singapore,in
Malaysia,in South Africa,and...
in the world.They are all legal
workers;and how about illegal
workers?There are more than refugees in 1979-1995.
Why?
There are 6,000,000 illegal Viet
immigrants flowing in Cambodia;
They keep flowing in 2,000 families per month.
100,000 Vietcong in seven rubber
fields.
20,000 Vietnamese secret agents
anywhere in Cambodia.
Many of Cambodians are survived
by relative refugees,even now
they are still begging money;including
Hun Sen govt is begging foreign money to survive.
11:48 PM
Would you prefer to have these donating countries' workers in Cambodia line up for the underemployment insurance if these donor nations failed to donate? Will you be willing to shoulder the responsibility for their loss. I don't think so.
Pi Anh
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