Hun Manet, the oldest son of Prime Minister Hun Sen, was promoted to the rank of one-star general in the anti-terrorism department for the Ministry of Defense, officials said Sunday.
Teap Man, deputy chief of the personnel department at the ministry, said a royal decree signed by King Norodom Sihamoni and dated Jan 26 promoted the 29-year-old former RCAF colonel to his new position. He said Hun Manet’s relation to his father was not a factor in his advancement.
“We promoted Hun Manet to one-star general based on the chain of command. It was not because he is a relative of Hun Sen but because his duty and position is a very important one. He has worked well at the ministry,” he said.
Teap Man went on to say that the climb of Hun Manet, who began his military career as a major in 2006, was actually a slow one given his education and time spent at the organization.
“It was not too fast but too slow since he graduated from [the US military academy] West Point and went to work for many years in the Ministry of Defense,” he added.
Along with Hun Manet, who graduated from West Point in 1999, Meas Sovann, a colonel with the military police in Kandal province, was also promoted to the rank of brigadier general.
Meas Sam Ol, chief of personnel at the ministry, couldn’t be reached for comment Sunday and Defense Minister Tea Banh declined to answer questions, saying the news was already broadcast on TVK.
“Why don’t you watch state television?” he asked a reporter before hanging up the telephone.
