Selected Comments of Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet, at the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Brigade 70
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(1) Peace is valuable for people of all ages, all generations, all religions
I would like to highlight the essential factors in maintaining peace in our country absolutely […] peace is like air. We do not see but we use it for free. It is around us, and only air has the greatest value. When do we know that the air is priceless? It is when this air is absent. Peace is the same. We can hear it and some people get bored of hearing […] we have had peace for over 20 years now […] but the real value of peace would strike us when it disappears […] for people of all ages, generations, and regardless of religion. No matter where you live, whether in the city or in the provinces, whether it is the armed forces or the civilians, peace is of the same value […]
(2) Born after 1998, Cambodians in Gaza: “we now knew what the value of peace is”
I met some of the younger generation people who are currently in war-torn areas (and asked) if they think that peace is only valuable for the elderly, Cambodian people, leaders, parents, grandparents, who went through the war and those who were born before this generation of peace? It is not (like that). On October 7, 2024, at around 4 pm, I received the news that one of our students in Israel had been killed in the fight at Gaza […] there were three students at the time. (After one died, the other two) saw people in uniform knocking doors from room to room. They could not be certain as to who (those armed persons) were from which side. They then said “now we knew exactly what the value of peace is”. This came from young men born after 1998. Parents at home (in Cambodia) live in a country with no war, but their children are there (caught in the fight at Gaza) […]
(3) Though at peace, Cambodia never forgets people who live and suffer in war-torn areas
I would like to convey this information to the parents who watched (this broadcast live) that even though our country is at peace, we have not forgotten our people who live and suffer in war-torn areas. I have instructed the suspension of sending student volunteers for internships in Israel and asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (and International Cooperation), the intelligence institution and the Ministry of Agriculture (Forestry and Fisheries) to liaise regularly with the 220 students who are currently staying there (Lebanon) and report to me on a regular basis, and prepare necessary plans in case of extreme situation, especially students and people living in the red area […] we are still monitoring. Cambodia hopes that all parties will be able to end the fighting and reach a negotiated settlement, and will not allow this war to escalate into something else […]
(4) Losing peace is like losing air to breathe
For the (Cambodian) 184 blue beret troop, well 177-strong platoon of engineering and multi-skills in Lebanon […] I have called them, in addition to the information that HE Tea Seiha and HE Sok Chenda Sophea (provided) in order to monitor and alert them […] in war, even the blue beret would be attacked. Five UNIFIL blue beret soldiers have been wounded in southern Lebanon […] this should indicate the need to maintain peace and stability in our country in order to keep on working, the livelihood improvement of the people, and to rebuild the economy, rather than to engage in all sorts of fighting and/or risks – not only for the armed forces but also for the people all over the country. That is why we must unite, especially the armed forces, to maintain peace at all costs like not to lose air (for breathing) […]
(5) The army is the key to creating and ending war, or maintaining peace
Our history confirms the participatory role of the armed forces, especially during and after the war and in the peace-making phase. Historically, if we talk about the period between 1970s until now, the army was a major player in starting the war. Without the military coup of 1970, our country would not have fallen into the flames of war. Without the army participating as operators in the win-win politics in 1998, we would not have been able to end the war. It is not certain that political leaders would agree, or the military would agree. This is a testament. Thus, the formation of war also involved the army as a key factor, the end of the war also involved the army as a key factor. More so, peacekeeping also has had the role of the army. Should the armies of all parties joining since 1998 do not trust each other, (we could not find and keep the peace) […]
(6) Strictly enforcing the law, and maintaining national security to ensure peace and stability for the people to be able to earn a living, organize celebration and help the national economy
The latest example was the August-18 event set by a small number of extremist groups to take advantage of people’s concerns over territorial issues related to the CLV-DTA to set the country on fire. Patriotism is a good thing. We all have it. No one betrays the nation […] The army is the one who participates in defending the territory, and keeping the peace […] if we do not hold the August-18 movement in line, we would suffer a break in the unification and national unity […] we must all have a nationalist spirit and patriotism, but extremist nationalism is dangerous […] I thank the ministries and institutions, the sub-national administration, and especially our armed forces of all kinds, the national police, the military police […] for participating strictly in enforcing the law, and maintaining national security […] to ensure peace and stability for the people to be able to earn a living, organize celebration and help the national economy […] please continue to be responsible and loyal to the nation, religion and the King […]
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(7) Cambodia has evolved from being a recipient to a provider of UN peacekeepers
Our army is not only involved in ensuring peace, promoting the development of the nation, helping our people in times of emergency, but also enhancing the country’s prestige on the international stage. Every time I meet with foreign leaders, I always mention that about 30 years ago, Cambodia was the recipient of the UN peacekeeping force (but now) we have become the ones who send troops out (under the UN umbrella). We have sent nearly 10,000 people to 10 countries since 2005. We currently have 627 men and 130 women on duty in four countries […]
(Regarding what is happening) after discussions with the Minister of National Defense, His Excellency Tea Seiha, and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, His Excellency Sok Chenda Sophea, I decided to reorganize the National Commission for the Deployment of Troops to the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission, which formerly was led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and with one or two Secretaries of State, and representatives from the Ministry of National Defense. The missions have related to national defense and to the armed forces, (thus we) have been decided to re-assign this job to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense as the chairman, to coordinate and lead the PKO. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall appoint the Secretary of State as the Deputy Chief for coordination […]
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(8) Training is an opportunity to transfer knowledge by sharing military experiences as well as gathering knowledge and compiling new documents
The army school, training centers […] are places we people are trained regularly […] lessons need to be consistent, the whole standard updated according to the changing situation, especially changes in technology […] training is an opportunity to transfer knowledge from the first generation of officers to the second and third generations of officers by sharing military experiences as well as gathering knowledge and compiling new documents […]
(9) Three benefits to practicing martial arts
Martial arts training is a must. No army in the world does not practice martial arts. It is just that they had to choose which martial arts. In war, one does not expect guns to have bullets all the time. There are three benefits to practicing martial arts. The first is to complete the necessary tactics. Tactics, weapons, combat skills, and combat serving skills are all skills that need to be developed, and secondly, health. Practicing sports for health. Thirdly, the participation in and preservation of martial arts that our ancestors left behind, like Bokator, Kham martial arts, combat martial arts, not just for show […]
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(10) Ensuring finances and logistics; continued supply of military personnel regime in a timely and with quality
In Khmer we have this saying that goes – “farming with water, fighting with rice”. The living standard of the army must be improved […] efforts must be made to guarantee ample financial support and logistics, and more so pay attention to the continued supply of the military personnel regime in a timely and with quality […] (and regarding) the quality of military equipment, I have entrusted the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense to pay close attention to it from head to toe. Quality must be guaranteed […]
Concerning pensions and disability assessment […] accuracy must be guaranteed […] O may advise to pay attention to officers, lieutenants, and soldiers of the second category who have lost their ability to work and have applied for retirement. For demanded skilled soldiers, and whereas s/he is still healthy, please save her/him because we are lacking many skilled officers to adapt and train to take over skills in tanks, artillery, and engineering […]
Relating to the assessment of disability, please strengthen this mechanism to ensure transparency and the truth, so that we can increase the accuracy of the assessment […] the assessment commission of the Ministry must ensure accuracy, because it will increase efficiency, especially the benefit for real disabled soldiers who have merit in the cause of defending the motherland […]
The Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, especially the Army, should be prepared to support the Royal Gendarmerie and the National Police in the fight against major crimes affecting national security in the future. The first is the crime of natural resources, the second is cross-border drug trafficking and the third is the crime of online fraud […]
(11) Managing the issuance of police and military number plates and prepare to change the leadership of “M1” (Prison)
I have seen that the Ministry of National Defense and the General Department of Technical Equipment issue guidelines on the subject of those cars using the military and police number plates […] from now on, the use such number plates will be allowed only for senior officers […] and we must pay attention to strengthening the control of weapons and ammunition in each unit and well as to exercise well-organized security for ammo arsenal […]
I have discussed with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior – His Excellency Sar Sokha – on searching for, reforming and strengthening prisons across the country. Yesterday, HE Sar Sokha reported to me. I agree. The first measure is to strengthen this “M1” (prison) by changing the leadership to strengthen this institution […] both the Ministries of Interior and of National Defense play an important role in the performance regarding national security duties […]
(12) Registering state and private lands, fraudulent land acquisition in national parks must face the law
In relation to natural crimes, I have signed two agreements. One of them is to allow for more request to cut the land from the state listing […] those who want to simulate that way (of cutting land from the state listing must) face with legal action. Doing so would be no different from deception. People who are really landless, we set up a mechanism to provide them with land […] we have to have a clear data as to which are the state land, and which are the private land, and where those land locate […]
Let us work together to take care of natural resources. The word state land means it is common land/property. The state is not the owner of the state land, just the caretaker. This land is the land of the people and of the country. Our duty is to protect. We must take action to resolve the matter for people who are really landless, but to what extent will we provide them. We cannot allow those who – for the reason of being landless to encroach on common land […]./.
