Hun Sen Promotes 29 to Four-Star General

5 February 2014
The Cambodia Daily
Government / Ministries and other national bodies / Ministry of National Defense
Chhin Chanpor / Chhum Socheat / CPP’s central committee / Department of Policy and Foreign Affairs / Dom Hak / El Vansarath / Hun Sen / Keo Pong / Khieng Savuth / Ministry of Defense / National Military Police / Nem Sowath / Phnom Penh municipal police / RCAF / Royal Cambodian Armed Forces / Sok Pheap / Tea Banh / Tea Vinh

Prime Minister Hun Sen approved a request from Defense Minister Tea Banh last week to promote 29 lieutenant generals to the rank of four-star general, according to a statement from the Ministry of Defense. The promotions, which follow repeated calls from General Banh last month for the armed forces to defend Mr. Hun Sen’s government against anyone looking to replace him, would more than double the ranks of four-star generals in the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF). “We request that those named below are promoted to the rank of General of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces,” reads the statement, dated January 30 and signed by Gen. Banh and Mr. Hun Sen. The statement lists one secretary of state at the Ministry of Defense, 10 under-secretaries of state, and 18 RCAF deputy commanders-in-chief. ... In 2010, RCAF reported having more than 2,200 generals of all ranks, about 1,500 more generals than the entire U.S. military. Experts have questioned the number of RCAF promotions and the exceptional speed at which the sons of high-ranking officials receive them when compared to countries with armies that vastly outsize Cambodia’s. In the months before last year’s national election, hundreds of RCAF officers were promoted, including Mr. Hun Sen’s two eldest sons, Hun Manet and Hun Manith, who were promoted to lieutenant general and brigadier general respectively.

 Saing Soenthrith
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/hun-sen-promotes-29-to-four-star-general-51430/