Hun Manet

Hun Manet ហ៊ុន ម៉ាណែត
Born (1977-10-20) 20 October 1977
Memot, Kampong Cham, Cambodia
(now in Tboung Khmum)
Allegiance Cambodia Kingdom of Cambodia
Service/branch Royal Cambodian Army
Years of service 1995Present
Rank Lieutenant general[1]
Commands held Prime Minister's Bodyguard Unit
RCAF Joint Staff
National Counterterrorism Task Force
Battles/wars Cambodian–Thai border dispute
Awards Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Cambodia
National Defense Medal
Spouse(s) Pich Chanmony

Hun Manet (Khmer: ហ៊ុន ម៉ាណែត; born 20 October 1977) is a lieutenant general in the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF). He is the son of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. His birth parents are Bun Rany and Hun Sen. He grew up and received his General Education in Phnom Penh and later joined the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces in 1995, the same year he entered the prestigious United States Military Academy at West Point. Having received his diploma on May 29, 1999. Hun Manet became the first Cambodian graduate of the Academy. Upon graduation from West Point, he received his bachelor's degree in Economics and a commission as Lieutenant in the Royal Cambodian Army. He also received his Master of Arts in Economics from New York University in 2002, and a PhD in Economics from University of Bristol, United Kingdom, in 2008. On 23 May 1999 he became the first Cambodian to graduate from the United States Military Academy.[2]

Biography

Hun Manet was born on 20 October 1977 in Koh Thmar Village, Memot District, Kampong Cham during the Khmer Rouge rule of Cambodia as the second son of Hun Sen and Bun Rany. On the night of his birth, a bright light flew over the roof of the house, of which Hun Sen believed his son was born from a supernatural being that is worshipped in Koh Thmar Village.[3]

He grew up and received his General Education in Phnom Penh and later joined the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces in 1995, the same year he entered the prestigious United States Military Academy at West Point. Having received his diploma on May 29, 1999, HE Hun Manet became the first Cambodian graduate of the Academy. He is the first Cambodia alumnus of the academy, and one of only seven foreign cadets to graduate that year.[2] He also received a PhD in economics at the University of Bristol in 2007. Upon graduation from West Point, he received his bachelor's degree in Economics and a commission as Lieutenant in the Royal Cambodian Army. He also received his Master of Arts in Economics from New York University in 2002, and a PhD in Economics from University of Bristol, United Kingdom, in 2008.

He received appointment as the Commander of Cambodia’s National Counter-Terrorism Special Forces with the rank of Colonel in 2008, with the responsibility to help build Cambodia’s capability to fight against terrorism. He earned the rank of Lieutenant General in June 2013, shortly after being named Deputy Commander of the Royal Cambodian Army and Deputy Chief of Joint Staff of the RCAF. During the 2008-2011 Cambodia-Thai confrontation, His Excellency Hun Manet played a prominent role in negotiations to end the stand-off. He is also very involved with reforming process of the RCAF, especially focusing on young military officers and soldiers. Apart from professional military duties, he is actively involved with many social programs. He is the Chief of the Samdech Techo Hun Sen Scholarship Committee and the Samdech Techo Scholarship Association, which provides scholarship opportunities to thousands of Cambodian youths to study at universities across Cambodia. He is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Samdech Techo Youth Volunteer Doctor Association (TYDA), which mobilizes thousands of medical professionals, medical students and volunteers to help provide free healthcare to rural Cambodians throughout the country. He is also engaged with a number of other activities to promote humanitarian activities for orphanages and handicaps.

Military service

Hun Manet joined the army in 1995, the same year he entered the United States Military Academy. He became Major General in January 2011, just months after being named Deputy Commander of the Royal Cambodian Army and Deputy Chief of the RCAF Joint Staff.[1] Manet played a prominent role in negotiations during the 2008 Cambodian-Thai stand-off. On 19 June 2013, he was promoted to lieutenant general.[4] His younger brother, Hun Manith, also serves in the army, as brigadier general.

References

  1. 1 2 Saing Soenthrith and Paul Vrieze (January 30, 2012). "Hun Sen's Second Son In Meteoric Rise Through RCAF Ranks". The Cambodia Daily. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Like father, like son in Cambodia". Asia Times. March 17, 2011. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
  3. Vannarin, Neou (May 3, 2013). "Hun Sen Tells of Eldest Son's Supernatural Arrival". The Cambodia Daily. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  4. "Election List May Widen Divide in Hun Sen's Party". Radio Free Asia. February 22, 2013. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
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