Ministry of Defence hits back at NEC’s neutrality guidelines for army
Phnom Penh Post | 26 May 2017
The Ministry of Defence on Friday lashed out at civil society and election monitoring groups, claiming a recent statement
urging the armed forces to maintain their neutrality during the
election process had tarnished the military and “could not be accepted”.
With the commune vote just over a week away, the statement follows
weeks of bellicose rhetoric from top leaders of the security forces,
including a recent threat from Defence Minister Tea Banh to beat
opposition protesters “until their teeth come out” should they contest
the results of the June 4 poll.
“The Ministry of Defence spokesman would like to deny and condemn the
statement from Comfrel, associations and civil society in Cambodia
about the election situation,” read the statement, posted on the
ministry’s website this morning.
“[The statement] has the intention to incite and to tarnish the Royal
Cambodian Armed Forces. It is insulting and looks down on the honour,
role and duty of the [military].”
The Defence Ministry was responding to a joint statement (khmer)
released on Thursday by 18 civil society groups in Cambodia, including
Comfrel, Nicfec, Adhoc, the Cambodian Volunteers for Society, Central
and the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights.
The groups were voicing their support for a statement released by the
National Election Committee on Wednesday, which urged soldiers and
members of the police to remain neutral, and warned security forces
against intimidating voters.
The civil society groups also expressed concern about recent comments
by military top brass warning about crackdowns against election-related
protests.
In its response, the Defence Ministry stated that RCAF “knew clearly”
about the election law – which also stipulates military neutrality –
and its role and duties surrounding the ballot.
“There is no need to have Comfrel, associations and civil society in Cambodia make an instruction,” it read.
“The statement instructing the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces is a
serious violation to the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, and this cannot
be accepted.”
“The Defence Ministry would like to inform the local and
international [community] that the actions and remarks of the senior of
Royal Cambodian Armed Forces [officials] in the past do not impact the
election process.”
The statement added that the military would promote “security and
safety” and not allow people to “cause insecurity and destroy Cambodia’s
peace”.
Reached yesterday, Nicfec executive director Sam Kuntheamy said it
appeared the Defence Ministry had misinterpreted the joint statement,
which he said was not meant as criticism.
He said the groups, which have created an “election situation room”
to address concerns during the campaign and polling process, would hold a
meeting tomorrow to discuss the ministry’s “very angry” response.
“It is very serious and we are concerned,” Kuntheamy said.
“We have a situation room meeting tomorrow morning to discuss. But
for me I think it is a very serious what the spokesman of the MoD said,
we feel upset and intimated when we see that reaction.”
If the so-called Minister of Defense knew the
ReplyDeleteNEC election rules, let alone the country's Constitution, why did he threaten to " break the teeth " of the protesters ?
This Teah Bangh is just the leader of Hun Sen's mercenaries !!!