Angered by criticism printed in the pro-CPP Koh Santepheap newspaper, the Ministry of Defense was moved on Tuesday to issue a public statement defending the behavior of RCAF soldiers.
The statement followed a Koh Santepheap article on Tuesday that praised RCAF soldiers for being chosen to participate in the UN peacekeeping mission in Sudan but also criticized the lack of morality among the armed forces.
In its rebuke, the Ministry of Defense claimed that the armed forces had made great achievements and it was only individuals among the armed forces who committed inappropriate deeds by violating military discipline.
Co-Defense Minister Tea Banh said Wednesday he was too busy to comment. An editor at Koh Santepheap also declined comment.
RCAF Deputy Commander-in-Chief Pol Saroeun said Wednesday that the nation’s troops are educated and well-disciplined. Issues related to poor discipline among the military were purely related to individuals, he said.
Criticism of the military in one of the country’s largest-selling pro-CPP newspapers follows last week’s criticism of the security forces by CPP Honorary President Heng Samrin after the fatal shooting of villagers in Poipet commune and prisoners in Kompong Cham province’s CC3 prison.
