Ministry of National Defense

Military, government and ruling party officials on Thursday distanced themselves from deputy military commander Chea Dara’s comments this week that the “army belongs to the Cambodian People’s Party,” insisting that the military remains neutral. ...

Cambodia’s armed forces belong to the country’s ruling party and must prevent a “color revolution” from overtaking the Southeast Asian nation, a four-star general said Wednesday, drawing criticism from an opposition official who called his understanding of the military’s role “limited.” ...

Some 5,000 security personnel were called to the headquarters of Prime Minister Hun Sen’s bodyguard unit in Kandal province on Thursday, where the premier said they must protect Cambodia’s territorial integrity, according to a number of officials in attendance. ...

National Military Police Commander Sao Sokha on Tuesday painted a rosy picture of the country during a ceremony in Phnom Penh to celebrate the 22nd anniversary of a wing of the armed forces that has been routinely called upon to crush dissent. ...

This week, Cambodia’s government ignored pressure from Europe and the United States and passed the NGO law. ...

During a five-day state visit to China that starts today, Defense Minister Tea Banh will meet with officials from the Union Development Group, a Chinese firm that has evicted hundreds of families to make way for its tourism development in Koh Kong province. ...

A Malaysian-flagged oil tanker that was hijacked by pirates last week was spotted in Cambodian waters by the Australian air force Thursday, according to Malaysian state media. Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh, however, said the vessel never passed through the country’s territorial sea. ...

Late CPP President Chea Sim’s personal bodyguard unit will be disbanded following the cremation of his body on Friday and its members returned to their former police departments and military brigades, officials said Monday. ...

Mam Sonando, a prominent radio station director and government critic, announced Friday that he would resign from his position as head of the Association of Democrats, an NGO he founded in 2010, in order to create a new political party to stand in the upcoming ...

When Defense Minister Tea Banh addressed graduates last month at Cambodia’s prestigious Army Institute, he directed his thanks to the guests who made it all possible: a group of crisply dressed officers from China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA). ...

Defense ministers from the 10 nations of the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) agreed here Monday to cooperate in tackling the grave security threat from the Islamic State (IS). At the end of the two-day 9th ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting, the ministers signed a joint declaration ...

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Gen. Tea Banh left for Langkawi, Malaysia on Sunday to attend the 9th ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting to be held from Monday. “The ASEAN defense ministers will review the latest development of security and defense situation in ASEAN,” ...

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday warned to take action against any ill-willed groups that have attempted to topple the government. ...

Defense Minister Tea Banh joked Tuesday that the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) are “biased to the right people” in protecting the government from destabilizing political agitators. Speaking at the annual review of the military’s activities at the Defense Ministry, General Banh said the armed forces ...

Cambodian Defense Minister Gen. Tea Banh said, on Monday, that he met with his visiting Laos counterpart Lt. Gen. Sengnuan Saiyalath, and they agreed to further enhance bilateral ties and cooperation for mutual benefits. ...

Cambodia has agreed to support Malaysia’s proposed establishment of an Asean Peacekeeping Force, comprising of personnel from all 10 Asean member states to serve the United Nations. ...

Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Treetod Sonjance, paid a two-day visit to Cambodia on Monday in a bid to promote ties and cooperation between the two neighbours. ...

A Defense Ministry official has requested that vehicles bearing Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) license plates be exempt from paying the country’s road tax, noting that a recent increase in inspections by tax officials could hurt “military officers’ feelings.” ...

Department heads within the Interior Ministry must immediately begin enforcing a Royal Decree issued in October that prohibits civil servants from holding two government jobs at the same time, according to a letter issued by ministry Secretary of State Sak Setha last week. ...

Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Prawit Wongsuwan will lead a military delegation to pay a two-day official visit to Cambodia on Dec. 24 and 25 to further boost bilateral ties and cooperation, said a press statement issued by the Cambodian defense ministry on ...

As part of its plan to up Cambodia’s soldier count, the Ministry of Defence is recruiting 620 university students. The candidates from the 2014-2015 academic year are to be volunteers with no criminal backgrounds, according to an official announcement. The recruitment drive spans the month of ...

The father of a man killed during a government-run fireworks display in October has sent letters to the King and two government institutions demanding compensation for his loss. Na Kry said yesterday that he sent letters last week to the King, the National Assembly and ...

A group of conservationists in Kratie province submitted on Friday a formal request asking Defence Minister Tea Banh to discipline two Kratie-based military commanders. They accuse the officers of profiting from illegal logging and threatening to kill an activist should he continue his work. ...

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha made a minor misstep in the minefield of Thai-Cambodian relations on the eve of his official visit to our neighbour last week. Prior to his departure for Phnom Penh, Prayut proposed an idea for joint development of Preah Vihear, the ancient temple ...