Hun Sen Says Cambodian Armed Forces Should Play International Role
DPA
Cambodia's armed forces should step up its international role in the interests of fighting terrorism as well as on peacekeeping missions for the United Nations, Prime Minister Hun Sen said Wednesday.
Speaking at a training facility in the southern province of Kampong Speu, Hun Sen said the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) should "expand and strengthen international cooperation...within the framework of international community integration."
Hun Sen cited "terrorism, cross-border crime" and "illegal political and military organizations" as key threats to national, regional and world security which must be addressed globally.
"RCAF not only has a good relationship with other friendly nations but also must be properly trained in order to be ready to go overseas for implementation of international humanitarian tasks when it receives a request from the UN and orders from the government," he said.
He said the armed forces should also target smuggling, human trafficking and prevention of landgrabbing, although he added that soldiers should not consider themselves above the law or immune to respecting people's basic human rights when taking on these roles.
Cambodia has made efforts to reduce its active armed forces since the 30-year civil war ended nearly a decade ago and the government has increasingly looked for new areas in which to productively deploy remaining troops.
Last year Cambodia refused to send troops to Iraq but has repeatedly said it is happy to send troops to areas which require peaceful or reconstructive deployments.
Hun Sen offered to send peacekeepers to East Timor after talks with Australian Prime Minister John Howard last October and currently has military deminers on site in Sudan.
Speaking at a training facility in the southern province of Kampong Speu, Hun Sen said the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) should "expand and strengthen international cooperation...within the framework of international community integration."
Hun Sen cited "terrorism, cross-border crime" and "illegal political and military organizations" as key threats to national, regional and world security which must be addressed globally.
"RCAF not only has a good relationship with other friendly nations but also must be properly trained in order to be ready to go overseas for implementation of international humanitarian tasks when it receives a request from the UN and orders from the government," he said.
He said the armed forces should also target smuggling, human trafficking and prevention of landgrabbing, although he added that soldiers should not consider themselves above the law or immune to respecting people's basic human rights when taking on these roles.
Cambodia has made efforts to reduce its active armed forces since the 30-year civil war ended nearly a decade ago and the government has increasingly looked for new areas in which to productively deploy remaining troops.
Last year Cambodia refused to send troops to Iraq but has repeatedly said it is happy to send troops to areas which require peaceful or reconstructive deployments.
Hun Sen offered to send peacekeepers to East Timor after talks with Australian Prime Minister John Howard last October and currently has military deminers on site in Sudan.
5 comments:
The Khmer PM is willing to please, selectively, the international community, but not his own people.
If he is committed to please his own people like he does with international pressure in some circumstances like this one, sending troop to monitor other part of the world, he would be more liked at home.
He only does this to polish his communist image and VN-puppet as well. He always craves good international image than at home.
Why can't he be like Emperor Jayvarman 7?
US has so far spent over three hundreds billions dollars on IRAQ. Whereas 37 millions US citizens have no medical insurances and cut in other services.
and for war!
we are for peace!
why not!
AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave had terrorized Cambodian society is not enough and now he want to send his Vietcong slave soldiers oversea to terrorize the whole world! Maybe AH HUN SEN Vietcong is confident enough to see their body bag as these Vietcong slave soldiers return home!
What a great idea!!! Solve Cambodian unemployment by drafting young men and shipping them off as peacekeepers.
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