Fighting a different battle

Sok Ren leans against a tree near a military barracks in Preah Vihear, where he has been under constant surveillance since July 31. VIREAK MAI

May Titthara The Phnom Penh Post 28 August 2013

Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey

“This is an RCAF order [for everyone]. Even I myself have been told to stay in the barracks for more than a year now and have not gone out because I’m busy protecting the country,” said Srey Deuk, commander of Intervention Division 3.

“If everyone goes home, who will protect the nation?”

In limbo

At least once a year, during harvest season, soldiers are allowed a 10-day leave. But Ren’s detention has left his status unclear.

Early this month, Nuon Chantha, 48, twice travelled from Oddar Meanchey province’s Anlong Veng district to her husband’s battalion to beg the Battalion 8 commander for mercy.

“I went to meet his big boss, Yem Pem, at the battalion located in Preah Vihear on August 7 and 9, but he would not allow my husband to leave because he committed a giant mistake … so he must stay at least three or four months,” she said.

“I pleaded, I said: ‘If he stays here, next year, I will be starving. Please, uncle, pity me.’ But he remained firm. So I said goodbye and returned home.”

Speaking at the couple’s small Anlong Veng house, Chantha said Ren had been due to harvest his one-hectare Preah Vihear farmland within the coming weeks. If he continues to be forbidden from farming, they’ll go hungry.

“Last year, my family couldn’t reap, because they asked him to stay in training longer, meaning we had insufficient food. This year, it is high time for harvest, but he is punished and not allowed to go anywhere for at least three months. So again, we don’t have anything to eat.”

Ren’s current troubles are coming in a particularly harrowing year for his family. Their daughter is due to give birth any day now, while Chantha suffers a chronic illness and is herself unable to work.

Losing 28,000 riel a month, then, was hardly an option for Ren, whose salary hovers around $150.

“Please inform Samdech and ask for intervention into corruption among [RCAF] commanders who cut our salaries by 28,000 riel a month unreasonably,” his ballot box letter reads.

For the good of the nation

Both Chantha and Ren insist the letter was not meant maliciously and are quick to point out he, in fact, voted for the ruling party.

“My husband did it because he was afraid of the soldiers being angry about the pay cut and thus would vote for the other parties,” Chantha said. “He made a mistake.”

Battalion 8 commander Pen declined to comment, while Intervention Division 3 commander Deuk insisted Ren’s complaint was a non-issue.

“The military does not know about this corruption case, and we have not given any orders to dock soldiers’ pay. The issue was at a lower battalion and has already been resolved and the money given back,” he said.

Shortly after the letter surfaced, Ren said, commander of Brigade 8’s Battalion 383, Ly Luon, arrived at the barracks and gave 30,000 riel to each soldier.

Anti-Corruption Unit president Om Yentieng refused to comment saying: “I cannot answer the Post’s questions.”

Regardless of the corruption issue, there is little question the commanders have overstepped their bounds, rights groups said.

“In truth, each soldier who’s not satisfied with their boss for committing corruption has the right to take action to solve their problem,” Adhoc senior investigator Chan Soveth said. “If each soldier who speaks out is detained or threatened … it seriously undermines their rights.”