Defence ministry spokesman Chhum Socheat speaking at an October 18 press conference organised by the Royal Government Spokesperson Unit at the Office of the Council of Ministers to disseminate the ministry’s achievements in the past five years. Hong Menea
Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defence aims to achieve its strategic goals by modernising the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), increasing their professional capacity for protecting territorial sovereignty and contributing to national socio-economic development through effective law enforcement.
At an October 18 press conference organised by the Royal Government Spokesperson Unit at the Office of the Council of Ministers to disseminate the ministry’s achievements in the past five years, ministry spokesman Chhum Socheat presented a report on the law enforcement activities undertaken by RCAF units.
He said the RCAF had arrested more than 15,000 suspects, with more than 14,000 of them sent to court. Defence forces had played key roles in over 10,000 drug-related cases.
The report added that in the course of its anti-drug operations, the RCAF had confiscated hundred kilogrammes of illegal drugs.
Socheat said that to achieve even more fruitful results from strategic tasks in the national defence sector, measures were being implemented to modernise RCAF forces through training and capacity building.
“The ministry is modifying its organisational structure to enhance effective management, and clarify issues of governance, particularly the general statute for all serving RCAF personal and the sub-decree on general discipline.
“The two goals are internal reform while making external friends, in the spirit of independence, for improved efficiency and effectiveness in all fields,” he added.
According to Socheat, the ministry will continue to pay close attention to developing its human resources while defending the legitimate government.
According to the ministry’s report, the RCAF has actively assisted law enforcement officials within the framework of the safe village-commune policy to ensure social order, protect political stability and more.
“The RCAF has also complied with the directives of Prime Minister Hun Sen by cracking down on the destruction of natural resources – as well as encroachment on the Tonle Sap flooded forests, illegal fishing and tax evasion – to contribute to the nation’s revenue gathering capacity,” it added.
