“Thank you, win-win politics”
Esteemed the win-win politics leaders and operators who brings peace and complete unity to the country, Excellencies, Lok Chumteavs, Leaders, Members of the Senate, the National Assembly, the Royal Government, military attachés to Cambodia, presiding members, distinguished guests, officers, deputy officers, soldiers, special forces command, army and congratulation the whole ceremony.
[…] I would like to take this opportunity to evaluate and appreciate (officers, deputy officers, soldiers of the special forces command). We cannot talk about the progress of this unit without referring to the main actor, His Excellency Chap Pheakdey, Secretary of State of the Ministry of National Defense and former Commander of the Special Forces Command, who have led this unit for 28 years with many successes and achievements. I also have the honor of being the Commander of the Army in the past, working with His Excellency the former Commander of the Special Forces Command in building and strengthening achievements at the Special Forces Command […]
Having upgraded the 911 Paratroopers Special Forces from a division to a Special Forces Command really enhances the skills and scope that the unit has already played in their training and participation, especially the training of special forces, not just for soldiers in the unit but also for the whole army. The establishment of the Techo Sen Oral Military Academy, as well as the Diving School, was the result of special efforts by the former Special Forces Commander […]
We have just witnessed the parachutists in action. We praised the soldiers who jumped to the right targets. This is the beginning of training and strength building, but if we talk about the history of parachuting, we have moved our location around many times. Originally, when the headquarters was set up, the field was not (what) it is now where there are concrete roads and houses around it. Parachuting here had sometimes brought our jumpers to the neighbor’s roofs. We then decided to move the training camp to the Kdan Roy area. Soon, Kdan Roy became an industrial zone (thus parachute training) was not possible anymore […]
Finally, we need to think about long-term strategies. It is not possible for the paratroopers to have no place to practice […] (with) the support of Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, (the former Prime Minister,) and efforts from the leaders of the Ministry of National Defense, the Commander-in-Chief of the army, especially the direct efforts from the unit leaders and the main actor, His Excellency Chap Pheakdey, we have been able to build a long-term raining school in the district of Oral for the paratroopers, the anti-terrorist forces and specialized forces, along with further achievements in relation to the school in Koh Takiev (island) […]
All achievements, along with many others, are inseparable from the contribution of the Armed Forces of the friendly countries, the alliance partners and and the many philanthropists who have contributed to the building of the armed forces, especially the Special Forces Command here […]
In strengthening the capacity of the army, especially the modernization of the special forces, I would like to add a little of my impression. To modernize the army, we must focus on three tasks – first, modernization of structure, second, modernization of training, and, thirdly, modernization of equipment.
As for structural modernization, it means that we need to regularly evaluate, revise or strengthen the structure to respond to current and future task requests. Of course, the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces has a long history. Yesterday we also celebrated the birthday of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, but every era, we have to go through different risks and challenges. Actually, facing with the current threat of traditional warfare, the clash between large forces in Cambodia is unlikely. What we need to pay attention to is the non-traditional security risks – the fight against terrorism, other crimes, all kinds of disasters and cyber security. All of these require all of our institutions, especially the security forces, including the military, to continue to pay attention to the assessment and restructuring to respond.
Over the years, our armed forces has restructured, especially in the army, navy and air force. For the Special Forces Command, we are also prepared to face with frequent disasters, and the army also joins the National Police Force, the various types of troops that participate in the rescue mission. This requires structuring and strengthening to prepare and equip for the training.
Created in 2020, in these years we have created additional disaster relief units in the military regions, divisions and some brigades, where there twere none in the previous structure. The former structure was prepared for traditional wars, battles to defend territorial integrity, or wars between armies and armies. Our roles and responsibilities need to change. Strengthening such capabilities is an important task. At the moment, in the military parade, we have seen the disaster relief forces equipped with fire extinguishers. The Special Forces Command has been carrying out a lot of tasks (including) floods, disasters or building collapses, for which it is necessary to equip the forces in an orderly manner.
Regarding the fight against terrorism […] which is an important task, we hope there will be no such terrorist fight, but we must be prepared for it. No one can predict that terrorism will not happen on Cambodian soil. We had had some cases in the past that we were able to prevent and avert. Terrorists were planning to attack our territory, but we worked hard and foiled the attempts in time. Therefore, it is best to always be prepared to respond to a scenario or bad incident to arise. In efforts to restructure the army in the past, we have created a company of anti-terrorism force in every military region and a platoon/squadron of anti-terrorism force in every division.
Previously, we had the National Anti-Terrorism Special Forces Command established in 2008, and reinforced it in 2010. We have commandos specialized in counter-terrorism in (the special) forces, but responding to demands on the ground, it requires the forces on the spot, especially the military region and division, focus on some target areas such as Sihanoukville, Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, where there are tourists, because this non-traditional threat crosses the border without limits. An ethnic group can be a target of attack in another country. The embassies or institutions of a country may be attacked or targeted in other countries, or in Cambodia. That is why Cambodia must be ready anywhere, at all times.
In connection with this work, I would like to advise the relevant institutions, the National Committee for Combating Terrorism, all relevant ministries and units to review the preparation of legal standards, mechanisms and methods. We have a lot of skills and forces, but the fight against terrorism is complex and sometimes it is legal and diplomatically related. Sometimes the attack does not involve only Cambodians or any country, it can involve both the victim and the target being attacked are foreigners or foreign terrorist operators.
Therefore, it requires the cooperation that we have in the National Committee, which has all the institutions, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Defense and Interior, to review, especially (what) force to use (in) what situation so that we can ensure (smooth operation). For whatever reason, any unit can issue operations without hesitation because we (based on) laws and/or clear standards as to who does what. It is an important task that requires us (to be prepared to respond) to the natural disaster that require adjustments in our approach and response within our laws.
Third, let the Ministry of National Defense, General Command; and Commands of all types of troops pay attention to the current and future threats, namely threats to cyber technology security. We need to pay attention because the army has already been modernized. Even the cars are equipped with electronic technology. Some of the trucks that are not running must go to a shop equipped with computer diagnosis. Without the ability to manage security data, communications, especially the military, which needs to be highly secretive (then) we (will) encounter difficulties. I would like to ask His Excellency the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense, His Excellency the Commander of all types of troops to review and strengthen the institutions, procedures and mechanisms for better management and prevention.
Technology is present and future. We can not throw it away. We need to use it to increase efficiency, but if you have to use it, do not let it be a double-edged sword. We need to protect it also. Messaging Department and Command may want to check the structure, if it is what it needs to be now. Whether the IT team that we have is able only to set up the Internet in the unit or interconnected cells to protect the cyber system throughout the entire army. This work is not only in the Ministry of Defense. The Ministry of Interior has also restructured several relevant ministries and institutions in the Royal Government to promote e-government as a necessity. Whatever you do, you need to structure it properly. If there is no structure, there is no role and no task. Then, what we do will be quick and dirty and there would be no agreement on. Informal arrangements are not effective.
As the Commander of the Army in the previous term, I have done some of this works within the framework of the Army, with the support of His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, as well as Samdech Pichey Sena Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense, to look into strengthening it. Training is an important task. Human resources without real skills do not guarantee operational efficiency and responsiveness. Training is an important principle to pay attention to and increase attention. Talking about training, we are focussing on strengthening the school. Please pay attention and continue to strengthen the existing schools, while reorganizing the schools that are coming to ensure shelf training efforts. In the past, we have organized many schools under the Army, Navy, and Air Force from the primary to soldiers, deputy officers, primary officers, senior officers.
Please continue to focus on trainers and the curriculum. We may need to further promote the establishment of specialized military academies. In the Army, we are working on air defense, artillery, and tanks, which we consider to be central to ensuring the training of our primary officers to address the shortage of skilled officers. At the same time, the military academy in the regional army must be strengthened. Like students (in general education), if (education and care in the) kindergarten is not good, the (education in) elementary will be difficult, and middle school will be no less. If the middle class has a problem, getting to college is difficult. It is in this regard that we strengthen (the training efforts) from the bottom.
The schools in all six military regions, the Army Training Center for Deputy Officers, as well as our officers at all levels, should be strengthened by paying attention to the trainers in both quantity and quality on a regular basis. The selection and evaluation of principals is an important task, depending on the head of the institution […] building and strengthening professional schools, as well as the equipping and organization of facilities and up to dated lessons.
I think we should look into setting up a mechanism to ensure the quality of training whereas documents are updated with regular research, and disseminating to all units to ensure consistency in implementation. In addition, the training centers have played a very important role in this work. I would like to thank the General Command of the Ministry of National Defense, as well as the National Defense University and all school institutions for their efforts in modernization and revision. But we should have an institution for researching strategies, lessons from experiences, the evolution of tactics used in the world. For example, many countries have now learnt about the use drones and new technologies in the Russia-Ukraine war […] (therefore) it requires the research to facilitate (efficient) training.
We need to adapt (the research work to) the needs of the army, both present and in the future, starting from an agreement on training based on the organization of work standards, lessons, training programs and unity in the army. The army needs to operate in groups. The smallest is at least three. One group consists of three persons, and a contingent consists of three groups, and we working on hierarchical appointment accordingly. Therefore, it is necessary for all soldiers, lieutenants and officers to understand, not only the tactical skills in the battlefield but even on the training campus technical skills, logistics skills, any skills must have a standard that we must speak the same language throughout the units.
Designing and updating the curriculum is an important task. I would seek a review on a task. This work has already been done by His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief and the Ministry of National Defense. We are working to strengthen training in the three level military training schools – independently and interrelatedly. We have the Primary Officers’ School, which there has been an active officers school at Thmat Pong, and the Army Institute at Thlok Ta Sek. We have a staff command faculty under the National Defense University. I advise that the Ministry of National Defense, the Commander-in-Chief, evaluate and organize the Staff Command into an independent institution in order to raise the level and efficiency in the training of our key officers.
This middle level is very important. The National Defense University should concentrate and strengthen the strategic level of defense. Of course, we have (foreign) language college, IT college, but in every country there are always three levels of school […] this work is already under discussion. I think it should be implemented once and for all to ensure that the Staff Command becomes an independent institution with the capacity to have the right to decide, to compile research and form alliances, and to link with the institutions and the Command Offices of all countries. We should check this arrangement in relation to the restructuring our training institution to ensure our self-reliance.
Regarding equipping the institution, please pay attention to strengthening the maintenance of the training ground that we have. Take care of what we already have so that it does not get lost and shrink. Solving problems, especially on the training ground, is very difficult. Twenty or thirty years ago, it was very easy to prepare army training ground. But now, due to the evolution and expansion of the lives of our people, it is difficult. For training purpose, let us first prepare a suitable field for live fire exercise. If necessary, prepare a field for every unit, because now, for example, we cannot find a separate training site for tens of thousands of hectares in the military region 4 and another thousands of hectares for division 2, and another for division 3 separately. We need to set up a common place where things liked that could be carried out to serve the training in that area altogether.
(The benefit will be) first about the land, we do not have to find a lot. We will concentrate on maintaining and making investment only in one place. In the third military region, we have many of those. We have a training school of the Special Forces Command of the bodyguard command at the district of Chum Kiri and of the Army Training Center. Please take good care of it, especially the land, as the location is very large. Army training is not the same as engineering and also different from civil engineering. Army engineering builds and demolishes. If the pitch is not big, the training would be impossible. If it is close to the people, firing a cannon would disturb the people nearby.
We must use the training field along with selected troop type. In the future, the Air Force will use more helicopters. And in the future, there could be more than that. It requires a location that is far off from the people because we must first ensure the people’s safety. So, We need to do it in a way that we can maintain and protect.
Second, please continue to strengthen at each base […] I commend the units for their efforts to build and strengthen their pitches and training schools. The Special Forces Command under the leadership of HE Chap Pheakdey has built a lot and is very creative. Our officers and deputy officers are involved in building all these achievements at the Oral (district area) and Koh Takiev (island). Various institutions had participated in building and using the facilities for the benefit of all. There has been training of numerous skills for the armies.
I may suggest that His Excellency, Lok Chumteav, the mayors of cities and provincial governors, who have been requested for military training assistance, please take immediate action to prepare them as soon as possible to leave other places for people to develop. If you do not take action, it will be difficult in the long run. I thank Excellencies, Lok Chumteavs, Governors of cities and provinces of many generations who have participated in helping, coordinating and solving the problem so that we can prepare (the place) to ensure efficiency and sustainability of the army’s capacity as were there no training facility, there would be no action. If just for training and artillery practices, we had to go to a friendly country (to) train, we are definitely done with. If even the brigade-level exercises are not able to take place for we do not have a place for it, then we are over. We cannot just train on computer. Of course, now there is technology to sit in a control room, but if our troops do not have a real training ground, it is not possible.
In this regard, I ask the relevant institutions such as the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction to provide more support and assistance. At the Oral (Military) School, and in some other schools, we have a lot of helps. We would welcome more as this is an important basis. Once it is resolved, we must maintain and strengthen it for the future and used (by the armed forces) together. It is not that the “70th Division has got and developed its training pitch at Chum Kiri, and would not let anyone come to train.” Please share the resources of our entire army. This is what I mentioned in relation to the planning and equipping the training facilities. We will strive to do better.
Before ending this speech today, we are going to have the handed over of 100 three-and-a-half-ton trucks to the 25 provincial and municipal police commissioners and military police, whereby each unit will receive two trucks. This number is not large, but it can facilitate transporting some forces. Ensuring mobility of forces is an important task that Samdech Techo had (in his time as Prime Minister) mobilized philanthropists in donating hundreds of vehicles to most of the Army and General Command units. But this need is still there.
I thank Booyoung, especially Dr. Lee Joong Keun, the founder of the company, for his support of the army. The company has provided thousands of trucks to our provincial capital to facilitate the transportation of people […] once again, I would like to thank you for your attention and dedication. The mental and physical strength of the commanders, deputy commanders, officers, deputy officers and soldiers of all special forces commanders who have overcome all difficulties to achieve successful results today. On behalf of the Royal Government of Cambodia, I would like to join all of you to celebrate the 28th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Special Forces Command and wish the Commander, Deputy Commander, Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff of all Special Forces Command, as well as members of the whole ceremony good health, happiness in the family and success in all tasks under the cool shadow of peace./.
