Royal Cambodian Armed Forces
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| [[Military of Cambodia]] |
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| Founded | 1953 |
| Service branches |  Royal Cambodian Army Royal Cambodian Air Force Royal Khmer Navy |
| Headquarters | Phnom Penh |
| Leadership | |
| Commander-in-Chief | HM King Norodom Sihamoni Ke Kim Yan |
| Military age | 18-60 |
| Conscription | conscription law of October 2006 requires all males between 18-30 to register for military service; 18-month service obligation (2006) |
| Available for military service |
3,002,718 males, age 18–49 (2005 est.), 3,108,254 females, age 18–49 (2005 est.) |
| Fit for military service |
1,955,141 males, age 18–49 (2005 est.), 2,048,611 females, age 18–49 (2005 est.) |
| Reaching military age annually |
175,497 males (2005 est.), 172,788 females (2005 est.) |
| Expenditures | |
| Budget | $112 million (FY01 est.) |
| Percent of GDP | 3% (2005 est.) |
The Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) consists of the Supreme Command Headquarters (SCHQ) located in Phnom Penh, three distinct forces, the Army, Navy, Air Force and the military police. The RCAF was created in 1993 by the merger of the Cambodian People's Armed Forces and the two noncommunist resistance armies. At the time, there were are also resistance forces opposing the Government comprising the Khmer Rouge (also known as the National United Army or NUA) and a separate royalist resistance movement.
The army is the largest force with troops stationed in each province of the country. The navy is the second largest force and operates at sea, along the Mekong and Bassac rivers and in the Tonle Sap Lake. The military police force numbers around 7,800 employees and runs parallel to the civilian police force. The military police have posts in every province and municipality across the country. The air force is the smallest of the forces and has around 1,000 employees. The air force operates in every province with an airport.
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[edit] Regions
The RCAF command is divided geographically into five military regions and one special region. Each region includes several sub regions that correlate to civilian municipal and provincial boundaries:
- Region One: Headquarters are in Stung Treng and the region covers the provinces of Stung Treng, Ratanakiri and Mondulkiri.
- Region Two: Headquarters are in Kampong Cham and the region covers the provinces of Kampong Cham, Prey Veng, Svay Rieng and Kampong Thom.
- Region Three: Headquarters are in Kampong Speu and the region covers the provinces of Kampong Speu, Takéo, Kampot, Preah Sihanouk, Koh Kong and the municipality of Kep.
- Region Four: Headquarters are in Siem Reap and the region covers the provinces of Siem Reap, Oddar Meanchey and Preah Vihear.
- Region Five: Headquarters are in Battambang and the region covers the provinces of Battambang, Pursat, Banteay Meanchey and the municipality of Pailin.
- Special Region: Headquarters are in the capital, Phnom Penh and the region covers the provinces of Kampong Chhnang, Kandal and the greater municipality of Phnom Penh.
[edit] Strength and Demobilisation
In 2002, Prince Sisowath Sirirath, then Co-Minister of Defense stated that the total Cambodian military strength stood at 111,232 persons.[1] With the end of fighting and the surrender of the last of the Khmer Rouge, the Cambodian military has been undergoing substantial changes as it shifts to become a peacetime force.
Since 1999, the government has been working to demobilize large numbers of servicemen with support from the World Bank. Demobilization efforts began in February 2000 and the first 1,500 soldiers were demobilized in a pilot project later that year. In 2001, the first phase of demobilization got underway and 15,000 soldiers returned to civilian life in large ceremonies around the country. A second phase of demobilization was planned for 2003 where an additional 30,000 servicemen would leave the armed forces. However, the process has been stalled by allegations of corruption and procurement irregularities.
[edit] History
The Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), previously called "Forces Armées Royales Khmeres" (FARK), was established on 9 November 1953 under a Franco-Khmer convention. This contributed to the termination of the French colony and protectorate, and Cambodia obtained its own authentic military organization. The FARK's roles were defined as follows: to guarantee sovereignties of the nation and of the king; to ensure security, social orders and the respect of law; and to defend the Kingdom of Cambodia. With the number of less than 35,000, FARK was organized in battalion level under command of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, the Head of State.
The military situation was dramatically changed following the coup d'état in March 1970. In the Khmer Republic regime, the FARK was renamed "Khmer National Armed Forces" (Forces Armées Nationales Khmeres – FANK). When Cambodia real war followed, and in response to a declared state of emergency, the FANK's size was expanded to reach approximately 200,000 military personnel organized in brigades and divisions. The armed forces of all categories were placed under command and control of the President.
After the fall of the Khmer Republic regime in April 1975, the Khmer Rouge established a new military force called National Army of Democratic Kampuchea (NADK). It was purely composed of the ex-Khmer Rouge fighters. Similar to other forces, the NADK was organized up to division level and under command of the Chief of the General Staff.
Following the intervention of the Vietnamese forces in January 1979, which resulted in the collapse of the Khmer Rouge regime and because of the effect of the cold war, a new force was re-created in Cambodia: The Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Armed Forces, which later changed its name to the Cambodian People's Armed Forces (CPAF) of the Phnom Penh government, was rebuilt. This military organization evolved, in terms of size and organisation, from battalions to divisions.
In the meantime, anti-Vietnamese movements were formed along the Cambodian-Thai border. Apart from the remained NADK, two other non-communist resistance forces, the Khmer People's National Liberation Armed Forces (KPNLAF) and the Armées Nationale pour Khmer Independent – ANKI (previously called Armées Nationale Sihanoukist – ANS) were established. The military evolution of the last two movements was similar in character: from small armed groups to divisions.
Because of the influence of the Cold War's ideological contest, and the interference of some global powers, Cambodia found itself in an insecure environment. This remained the case for more than 20 years after 1970, and was only resolved through the Peace Accords signed in Paris in October 1991. A legitimate national armed force, the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, was re-established in 1993 following the creation of a democratically elected First-Term Government. The armed forces of all parties, except the NADK, were integrated into one national armed force.
In order to put security problems to an end, the Government commenced its Win Win policy in mid 1995. The policy was to end the internal security crisis through national reconciliation and national unity efforts, under the rule of the King of Cambodia. Subsequent breakaways of the NADK's units began in early 1996. The Win Win policy of Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen continued to succeed as the last groups of the Khmer Rouge guerrillas were integrated into the RCAF in late 1998. It historically marked the total dissolution of the Khmer Rouge's political and military organs and the return of all secession areas to the government control.
The RCAF now has to continue reforms, so as to be in-line with the Government's political guidelines. These guidelines direct the armed forces to demobilize to an acceptable size, achieve sound capability, and inculcate high ethics and dignity, with advancement towards international standardization in the future. The RCAF also has to plan for its agenda to include security cooperation for the common benefit of the whole region.
[edit] See also
- History of Cambodia
- Cambodian Civil War
- Lon Nol
- Khmer Republic
- Weapons of the Cambodian Civil War
- Khmer Rouge
- Meas Sophea
- Hun Sen
[edit] References
- ^ Cambodia Daily 3rd September, 2001
- Ian Ramage, Strong Fighting: Sexual Behavior and HIV/AIDS in the Cambodian Uniformed Services, 2002
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