Acting head of State Hun Sen confers the rank of five-star general on Tea Banh (left) and Men Sam An. AKP
Senate president Hun Sen, who is acting head of state while His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni is overseas, has responded to questions regarding the recent promotions of two members of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) to the rank of five-star-general.
On the morning of March 21, Hun Sen conferred the exceptional rank to Tea Banh and Men Sam An.
Questions were asked to as to why Sar Kheng was not bestowed with the same rank.
Hun Sen explained that Sar Kheng, deputy President of the CPP, cannot receive the rank because he is a civilian, not a member of the military like Tea Banh and Men Sam An.
“There was a comment saying that Sar Kheng was missing. I have clarified that he is a civilian; he does not wear a rank like soldiers do. In fact, back in 1997 or 1998, he said that if he were to wear a rank, he would only wear the rank of colonel, nothing higher than that, and at the time there were many promotions,” he said.
He believed such questions may be an attempt to sow division within the ruling party.
Currently, four senior officials hold the rank of five-star general: Hun Sen, Heng Samrin, Tea Banh and Men Sam An.
Hun Sen noted that Tea Banh and Men Sam An have made significant contributions to serving the nation and also participated in re-establishing the monarchy, making them deserving of the rank.
During the promotion ceremony, Tea Banh, on behalf of himself and Men Sam An, pledged to protect the achievements of the Royal Government and its political programmes, defend the King, uphold the Constitution, safeguard the legitimate government and preserve peace, independence and territorial integrity to ensure stability under all circumstances, providing the people with full opportunities to develop society, as well as the economy.
“I pledge to crush all conspiracies attempting to destroy peace, schemes to incite a colour revolution on Cambodian soil and to absolutely oppose any interference in Cambodia’s internal affairs by external entities,” he said.
Yang Peou, secretary-general of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, believed that Tea Banh and Men Sam An are worthy of their new rank because they have both made invaluable contributions to rescuing Cambodia from the ashes of war and bringing about the development its people enjoy today.
“The two distinguished figures who have been elevated to the exceptional rank of five-star general deserve the promotion, because of their contributions to the peace process and the development of Cambodia,” Peou said.
