Posted on 28 October 2008
The Mirror, Vol. 12, No. 584
“After a bloody clash between Cambodian and Siam [Thai] invading troops at the Veal Intry field, at Phnom Trop, and at the Keo Sekha Kiri Svarak Pagoda on 15 October 2008, the Cambodian government decided to recruit some soldiers in some provinces along the border to fill up the number of soldiers in units that face a shortage of soldiers.
“Military officials in Oddar Meanchey said that there is recruitment of soldiers in some districts in Oddar Meanchey where names of citizens are ticked off a list to serve in the army, without that they had personally volunteered. This problem will affect the feelings of the citizens.
“The deputy military commander in Oddar Meanchey, Mr. Him Sieb, said that among the five district of Oddar Meanchey, soldiers are recruited in four, including in Samraong, Trapeang Prasat, Banteay Ampil, and Anlong Veng.
“The deputy governor of Oddar Meanchey, Mr. Chab Phat, said that the recruitment process is followed by other steps, where first, the recruits from villages are gathered in each district, and then they are sent to be trained. In his district, soldier who are recruited, are between the age of 18 and 30.
“One citizen reported by telephone about the recruitments that it is good, and the reason why it is good is that when the nation needs us, it is our obligation, and it is not appropriate, and not acceptable if when we would not serve in the army. As long as the salaries are appropriate, it is possible to feed the family.
“As for Mr. Sim Piseth, a military official of unit #2 in Oddar Meanchey, he said by telephone that he does not know how many soldiers are being recruited, he just gave an example: if a unit used to consist of 500 soldiers - and when the number is reduced to 400, we have to recruit new soldiers to fill up the numbers; there is no precise number, that is, when one unit lacks soldiers, it has to be filled up.
“Mr. Sim Piseth added that this recruitment is to face Siamese [Thai] activities.
“Ms. Naren, an investigating official of the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association – ADHOC – in Oddar Meanchey, said that she contacted citizens by telephone from the four districts where soldiers are recruited, and in two districts – Trapeang Prasat and Along Veng – citizens volunteer, but in Banteay Ampil, citizens’ names are just listed up to recruit them as soldiers, which concerns the citizens. If military service is to be carried out, it is a national obligation, but as it is implemented only in Oddar Meanchey, it worries the people.
“Ms. Naren went on to say that if recruitment for military service is generally conducted, it is not a problem, but if it is carried out only in these districts, it is not good, because such an obligation has to be implement in a general way.”
Khmer Sthapana, Vol.1, #127, 26-27.10.2008
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Monday, 27 October 2008
The Mirror, Vol. 12, No. 584
“After a bloody clash between Cambodian and Siam [Thai] invading troops at the Veal Intry field, at Phnom Trop, and at the Keo Sekha Kiri Svarak Pagoda on 15 October 2008, the Cambodian government decided to recruit some soldiers in some provinces along the border to fill up the number of soldiers in units that face a shortage of soldiers.
“Military officials in Oddar Meanchey said that there is recruitment of soldiers in some districts in Oddar Meanchey where names of citizens are ticked off a list to serve in the army, without that they had personally volunteered. This problem will affect the feelings of the citizens.
“The deputy military commander in Oddar Meanchey, Mr. Him Sieb, said that among the five district of Oddar Meanchey, soldiers are recruited in four, including in Samraong, Trapeang Prasat, Banteay Ampil, and Anlong Veng.
“The deputy governor of Oddar Meanchey, Mr. Chab Phat, said that the recruitment process is followed by other steps, where first, the recruits from villages are gathered in each district, and then they are sent to be trained. In his district, soldier who are recruited, are between the age of 18 and 30.
“One citizen reported by telephone about the recruitments that it is good, and the reason why it is good is that when the nation needs us, it is our obligation, and it is not appropriate, and not acceptable if when we would not serve in the army. As long as the salaries are appropriate, it is possible to feed the family.
“As for Mr. Sim Piseth, a military official of unit #2 in Oddar Meanchey, he said by telephone that he does not know how many soldiers are being recruited, he just gave an example: if a unit used to consist of 500 soldiers - and when the number is reduced to 400, we have to recruit new soldiers to fill up the numbers; there is no precise number, that is, when one unit lacks soldiers, it has to be filled up.
“Mr. Sim Piseth added that this recruitment is to face Siamese [Thai] activities.
“Ms. Naren, an investigating official of the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association – ADHOC – in Oddar Meanchey, said that she contacted citizens by telephone from the four districts where soldiers are recruited, and in two districts – Trapeang Prasat and Along Veng – citizens volunteer, but in Banteay Ampil, citizens’ names are just listed up to recruit them as soldiers, which concerns the citizens. If military service is to be carried out, it is a national obligation, but as it is implemented only in Oddar Meanchey, it worries the people.
“Ms. Naren went on to say that if recruitment for military service is generally conducted, it is not a problem, but if it is carried out only in these districts, it is not good, because such an obligation has to be implement in a general way.”
Khmer Sthapana, Vol.1, #127, 26-27.10.2008
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Monday, 27 October 2008
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