21 Dec 07
By Srei Ka
Moneakseka Khmer
Translated from Khmer and posted online
There is a ridiculous story emanating from the armed forces. It is about the sale of military ranks to make money for the chiefs to finance their electoral campaigns. We are not sure whether this story is a joke made up by some officers or it is a true story. But if it is true, it surely is a most sadly hilarious anecdote. However, even if it is not true it still sounds like it is, for at the end of this year [2007] there have been many promotion requests at the colonel and general levels.
An officer attached to the Defense Ministry said that some of the aspiring officers want a star but lack the supporting status; so, they ask for additional posts to be given concurring to their present positions, such as becoming advisers to a minister or a state secretary so that they can get a star. Others are already bearing a star but seek auxiliary duties even if they are posts without portfolio so that they can get another star. And those who already have two stars on their shoulders are also striving to have three stars.
This officer at the Defense Ministry said that if the four-star rank is not the topmost echelon in the armed forces reserved for the elite only, thereby inaccessible to most, many people would have scrambled to be given four golden stars, especially those who have a lot of money. This officer further said that the three-star rank, too, is not easy to get but there are quite a few three-star generals in the armed forces because the rich can buy three stars just by making themselves advisers to the leader. In particular, those with one star or two stars can be numbered by the metric tons. We say this because Hun Sen recently claimed in public that if we weigh the stars [on the generals' shoulders] we can have tons of them. However, the government does not have any measure to prevent this inflation of ranks.
The officer at the Defense Ministry pointed out that just in Brigade 70, of which according to the work structure or military cadre the commander must be only a one-star brigadier, there are already dozens of officers bearing stars. Although in the armed forces at present there are already thousands of generals, especially generals with one star or two stars, promotions are announced with no end in sight. There are promotions virtually every month.
Seeing this inflation of military ranks, some curious minds have asked for the reason behind the promotions. This question has been responded with some mockery that ranks are being sold to make money for the chiefs to finance their electoral campaigns.
In time of war the military ranks were accorded on combat merit. Any units that went to the battlefields and won successes and those who served the tasks of the fighting forces well were given promotions as encouragement. Therefore, in time of war the military ranks were promoted according to the merit, the feats, and the sacrifices of each combatant. Now, however, things are not the same. Ranks are awarded not because of merit or achievements but on how much money one can afford to pay. Some persons do not even know where the barracks is but they are seen bearing stars like other generals.
Many with stars nowadays are claimed by some officers as being of Chinese roots because their names are not purely of Khmer origin. This has caused some resentment among the veteran fighters who have to salute or kowtow to those big daddies and big brothers from Chinatown who have never been in a barracks before. This statement should not be construed as racial discrimination. We are talking about fairness to the veteran soldiers because many have been soldiers all their lives but have no money or high ranks and instead are being insulted.
Some officers said that it is tolerable to them for the Chinese living in Cambodia and are Cambodian citizens to pay for the military ranks. But what is unacceptable is that some factory owners who are mainland Chinese or Taiwanese but they, too, bear stars on their shoulders. This is too ridiculous.
Asked to explain the existence of high-ranking officers who never know their quarters, barracks, or units, the military personnel experts say that ranks are being sold to get money for financing the chiefs' electoral campaigns because the 2008 national elections are approaching. A number of army commanders have been going to the localities one after another. When they canvass they need money. If you do not sell the ranks, where can you get money for the chiefs?
The officer at the Defense Ministry said that a scrutiny of the list of the year-end promotions shows that there are many who will get promoted. Despite the monthly promotions, there has been no reduction or halt to them. This has made some foreign military observers claim that in 3 or 4 years to come Cambodia will no longer have foot soldiers. There will be only officers with stars commanding fellow officers with stars because the commanders and deputy commanders, as well as the bureau chiefs, all have the same number of stars. If the chiefs and the subordinates all have high ranks, then who will salute whom, who will obey whom?
The officer at the Defense Ministry said that there is no problem if there are too may big shots. What is the problem is that the personnel experts have said they are selling ranks to make money for the chiefs to finance their electoral campaigns. A star costs not in the thousands but in the tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, it sounds plausible when they talk about selling ranks to make money for financing the electoral campaigns.
We do not know whether Prime Minister Hun Sen is aware of this or not, but the officers at the Defense Ministry as well as the Armed Forces Supreme Command said that we should ask Tie Banh, minister of national defense, and Ke Kimyan, supreme commander of the armed forces, and we will know the answer unless they have not reported it to Hun Sen. However, whether Ke Kimyan and Tie Banh report this or not, Hun Sen must know about it because he is the one who signs the promotion requests to be submitted to the King. Therefore, Hun Sen must be well aware of what is happening.
By Srei Ka
Moneakseka Khmer
Translated from Khmer and posted online
There is a ridiculous story emanating from the armed forces. It is about the sale of military ranks to make money for the chiefs to finance their electoral campaigns. We are not sure whether this story is a joke made up by some officers or it is a true story. But if it is true, it surely is a most sadly hilarious anecdote. However, even if it is not true it still sounds like it is, for at the end of this year [2007] there have been many promotion requests at the colonel and general levels.
An officer attached to the Defense Ministry said that some of the aspiring officers want a star but lack the supporting status; so, they ask for additional posts to be given concurring to their present positions, such as becoming advisers to a minister or a state secretary so that they can get a star. Others are already bearing a star but seek auxiliary duties even if they are posts without portfolio so that they can get another star. And those who already have two stars on their shoulders are also striving to have three stars.
This officer at the Defense Ministry said that if the four-star rank is not the topmost echelon in the armed forces reserved for the elite only, thereby inaccessible to most, many people would have scrambled to be given four golden stars, especially those who have a lot of money. This officer further said that the three-star rank, too, is not easy to get but there are quite a few three-star generals in the armed forces because the rich can buy three stars just by making themselves advisers to the leader. In particular, those with one star or two stars can be numbered by the metric tons. We say this because Hun Sen recently claimed in public that if we weigh the stars [on the generals' shoulders] we can have tons of them. However, the government does not have any measure to prevent this inflation of ranks.
The officer at the Defense Ministry pointed out that just in Brigade 70, of which according to the work structure or military cadre the commander must be only a one-star brigadier, there are already dozens of officers bearing stars. Although in the armed forces at present there are already thousands of generals, especially generals with one star or two stars, promotions are announced with no end in sight. There are promotions virtually every month.
Seeing this inflation of military ranks, some curious minds have asked for the reason behind the promotions. This question has been responded with some mockery that ranks are being sold to make money for the chiefs to finance their electoral campaigns.
In time of war the military ranks were accorded on combat merit. Any units that went to the battlefields and won successes and those who served the tasks of the fighting forces well were given promotions as encouragement. Therefore, in time of war the military ranks were promoted according to the merit, the feats, and the sacrifices of each combatant. Now, however, things are not the same. Ranks are awarded not because of merit or achievements but on how much money one can afford to pay. Some persons do not even know where the barracks is but they are seen bearing stars like other generals.
Many with stars nowadays are claimed by some officers as being of Chinese roots because their names are not purely of Khmer origin. This has caused some resentment among the veteran fighters who have to salute or kowtow to those big daddies and big brothers from Chinatown who have never been in a barracks before. This statement should not be construed as racial discrimination. We are talking about fairness to the veteran soldiers because many have been soldiers all their lives but have no money or high ranks and instead are being insulted.
Some officers said that it is tolerable to them for the Chinese living in Cambodia and are Cambodian citizens to pay for the military ranks. But what is unacceptable is that some factory owners who are mainland Chinese or Taiwanese but they, too, bear stars on their shoulders. This is too ridiculous.
Asked to explain the existence of high-ranking officers who never know their quarters, barracks, or units, the military personnel experts say that ranks are being sold to get money for financing the chiefs' electoral campaigns because the 2008 national elections are approaching. A number of army commanders have been going to the localities one after another. When they canvass they need money. If you do not sell the ranks, where can you get money for the chiefs?
The officer at the Defense Ministry said that a scrutiny of the list of the year-end promotions shows that there are many who will get promoted. Despite the monthly promotions, there has been no reduction or halt to them. This has made some foreign military observers claim that in 3 or 4 years to come Cambodia will no longer have foot soldiers. There will be only officers with stars commanding fellow officers with stars because the commanders and deputy commanders, as well as the bureau chiefs, all have the same number of stars. If the chiefs and the subordinates all have high ranks, then who will salute whom, who will obey whom?
The officer at the Defense Ministry said that there is no problem if there are too may big shots. What is the problem is that the personnel experts have said they are selling ranks to make money for the chiefs to finance their electoral campaigns. A star costs not in the thousands but in the tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, it sounds plausible when they talk about selling ranks to make money for financing the electoral campaigns.
We do not know whether Prime Minister Hun Sen is aware of this or not, but the officers at the Defense Ministry as well as the Armed Forces Supreme Command said that we should ask Tie Banh, minister of national defense, and Ke Kimyan, supreme commander of the armed forces, and we will know the answer unless they have not reported it to Hun Sen. However, whether Ke Kimyan and Tie Banh report this or not, Hun Sen must know about it because he is the one who signs the promotion requests to be submitted to the King. Therefore, Hun Sen must be well aware of what is happening.
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