Hun Manet hands over 230 vehicles to military units at Morodok Techo National Stadium on June 28. HUN MANET VIA FB
Hun Manet, deputy commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) and commander of the army, urged Cambodian philanthropists to keep up their support for the government. Their donations, he said, aids the RCAF in executing their national defence tasks.
Manet, who is also a future prime ministerial candidate for the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), made the call during a June 28 handover ceremony of 230 trucks to 62 RCAF units. The trucks were gifted by Prime Minister Hun Sen and his wife Bun Rany, following donations they received from a number of philanthropists.
Manet hailed this event as the second step in a large-scale mobilisation of Cambodian philanthropists, in support of the RCAF units.
“[I] would like to thank all our Cambodian philanthropists who have always contributed to the government in response to the call for support to the RCAF, particularly at a time when the RCAF is striving to achieve its reform process aimed at building and strengthening national defence, ensuring independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, peace, stability and national development,” he said.
He asserted that their kindness and gestures of goodwill are a crucial backbone for the army, providing necessary support and equipment.
“The army originates from the people and does whatever it takes for their wellbeing. The populace itself is the source of supply, in terms of forces and logistics. Moreover, these valuable donations reflect the solidarity and close alliance between the army and the people, which forms the foundation of national defence,” he stressed.
Manet further encouraged philanthropists from all walks of life to actively support the long-term strategic benefits, especially to aid the ongoing reforms within the RCAF, the nation’s defence core.
Preah Vihear provincial military commander Chan Sopheaktra noted the importance of the truck donation. He explained it is essential for transporting military equipment, defence materials and forces in aiding the people.
Addressing a June 12 inauguration ceremony at Brigade 70, an elite unit of the RCAF, Prime Minister Hun Sen said that through ongoing capacity building, the Cambodian military have contributed not only to the defence of territorial integrity and socio-economic development, but also to UN peacekeeping missions in war-torn countries.
Hun Sen also strongly encouraged philanthropists, alongside local and international development partners, to help alleviate the armed forces’ hardship in maintaining welfare, ensuring peace, security and development across all sectors.
