The government began handing out motorbikes Tuesday to thousands of soldiers forced to retire under a government program meant to shrink the size of the Cambodian armed forces.
The long-awaited motorbikes were the most expensive retirement perk for the former soldiers and had sparked months of controversy as soldiers saw the government set—and then break—its own deadlines for delivery.
“Everything has been going smoothly today after 16 months of waiting,” Prince Sisowath Sirirath, co-minister of Defense, said Tuesday.
The government plans to lay off 30,000 soldiers, saving some 1 billion riel ($250,000) per month in payroll while cutting the standing army to just under 100,000 troops.
Speaking at the distribution ceremony in Takhmau, Prime Minister Hun Sen said his government has retired 18,336 soldiers since late 2001, but that many have complained that promised aid packages to help them re-enter civilian life were slow in coming.
The government blamed the World Bank, which it said was slow in delivering the financing for mosquito nets, clothing, rice, cash, sewing machines and a choice of a motorbike, electric generator, water pump or housing materials.
Matters were complicated when nearly all soldiers chose a motorbike, requiring the government to find a company capable of producing and delivering thousands. It wasn’t until last month that the government awarded the contract to a Chinese company.
The World Bank had pledged $18.4 million in aid for the $42 million program, with the rest expected to come from international donors and the government.
Hun Sen said that a second wave of retirements scheduled for late this year will depend upon the World Bank’s offer of financing.
“From now on, without a pragmatic approach [by the Bank], we must not risk demobilizing soldiers at all,” he said.
