Royal Cambodian Armed Forces
| Royal Cambodian Armed Forces កងទ័ពយុទ្ធពលខេឞរភូមិន្ទ Kangyuthipol Khemarak Phumin | |
|---|---|
| Forces armées royales cambodgiennes | |
| File:Royal Cambodian Armed Forces Logo.gif | |
| Founded | 1953 |
| Service branches | Royal Cambodian Army Royal Cambodian Navy Royal Cambodian Air Force Royal Gendarmerie of Cambodia |
| Headquarters | High Command Headquarters Jok Dimitrov Boulevard, Khan 7 Makara, Phnom Penh
|
| Leadership | |
| Minister of Defence | General Tea Banh |
| Personnel | |
| Military age | 18–60 |
| Available for military service | 4,000,000 males, age 18–50 (2010 est.), 3,900,000 females, age 18–50 (2010 est.) |
| Fit for military service | 3,000,000 males, age 18–50 (2010 est.), 2,900,000 females, age 18–50 (2010 est.) |
| Reaching military age annually | 150,000 males (2010 est.), 150,000 females (2010 est.) |
| Active personnel | 125,000 |
| Reserve personnel | 200,000 |
| Expenditure | |
| Budget | USD$383 million (FY16)[1] |
| Percent of GDP | ~2% (2016 est.) |
| Industry | |
| Foreign suppliers |  People's Republic of China[2] Russia Bulgaria[3] Vietnam Czech Republic Poland South Korea United States Indonesia Philippines |
| Related articles | |
| History | Military history of Cambodia |
The Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (Khmer: កងទ័ពយុទ្ធពលខេឞរភូមិន្ទ, Kangtorp Yuthipol Khemarak Phumin) (RCAF) is the national military forces of Cambodia. The Supreme Commander-in-Chief is HM King Norodom Sihamoni, General Pol Saroeun is the Commander in Chief of the RCAF, which consists of the Army, Navy, Air Force and the Gendarmerie.
The armed forces currently operate under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of National Defence. Under the constitution the RCAF is in charged of protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Cambodia from external threats.
The Royal Cambodian Armed Forces consists of three branches:
The RCAF was created in 1993 by a merger of the Cambodian People's Armed Forces and the two non communist resistance armies. At the time, there were also resistance forces opposing the Government, consisting of the Khmer Rouge and a separate royalist resistance movement (also known as the National United Army or NUA). The forerunner of the Cambodian Armed Forces is the Division 125. It was established in 1978 by Hun Sen (now is Prime Minister) and the Vietnam People's Army's support.[4][5]
The Royal Cambodian Army is the largest force with troops stationed in each province of the country. The Royal Cambodian 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 10,000 employees and runs parallel to the civilian police force.
The military police have posts in every province and municipality across the country. The Royal Cambodian Air Force is the smallest of the military forces and has 5,000 members. The Air Force operates in every province which has an airport.[6]
Strength and demobilisation
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In 2002, Prince Sisowath Sirirath, then Co-Minister of Defence, stated that the total Cambodian military strength stood around 120,000 persons.[7] Since 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 a peacetime force.
Since 1999, the government has been working to demobilise large numbers of servicemen with support from the World Bank. Demobilisation efforts began in February 2000 and the first 10,000 soldiers were demobilised in a pilot project later that year. In 2001, the first phase of demobilisation got under way and 20,000 soldiers returned to civilian life in large ceremonies around the country. A second phase of demobilisation 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.[6]
| Component | Military personnel |
| File:Royal Cambodian Army logo.jpg Army | 85,000 |
| File:Emblem of Royal Cambodian Navy.gif Navy | 3,000 |
 Air Force |
2,500 |
 Special Forces |
5,000 |
 Royal Gendarmerie |
10,000 |
| Total | 105,000 |
History
Royal Khmer Armed Forces (FARK)
The Royal Khmer Armed Forces (Forces armées royales khmères; 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 organisation. The FARK's roles were defined as follows: to guarantee the sovereignty of the nation and of the king; to ensure security, social order and the respect of law; and to defend the Kingdom of Cambodia. With 50,000 troops, FARK was organised at battalion level under the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, the Head of State. At this early stage of the birth of an independent nation, its armed forces were often armed with little more than wooden rifles to fool aggressive Viet Minh forces. This forced King Norodom Sihanouk to sign border treaty agreements with Vietnam which were very unfavorable to Cambodia, resulting in the loss of much of its territory.
Khmer National Armed Forces (FANK)
The military situation changed dramatically following the coup d'état in March 1970. In the Khmer Republic regime, FARK was renamed Khmer National Armed Forces (Forces armées nationales khmères; FANK). When the Cambodian Civil War followed, and in response to a declared state of emergency, the FANK's size was expanded to reach 200,000 military personnel organised in brigades and divisions. The armed forces of all categories were placed under command and control of the President. In reality only portion of the army were combat ready. Corruption among its commanders resulted in thousands of "ghost soldiers" so that the generals could pocket the non-existent soldiers salary. When facing NVA, Viet Cong or Khmer Rouge forces, FANK never had full strengths as reported. FANK regiments and battalions were often wiped out by NVA, Vietcong, Khmer Rouge forces; only by American air power did Lon Nol's armed forces survive. Some corrupt FANK commanders even sold their surplus army weapons to the Khmer Rouge forces they were fighting. Often many FANK commanders were not at the front lines when they launching operations against the Khmer Rouge. In late 1973, the American Congress finally lost all confidence in FANK stopped all military aide to them. Many Cambodians lost their lives as result of the corruption that allowed to the Khmer Rouge to seize power in April 1975.
Revolutionary Army of Kampuchea (RAK)
After the downfall of the Khmer Republic in April 1975, the Khmers rouges régime established a new military force called Revolutionary Army of Kampuchea (RAK). It was purely composed of original Khmer Rouge fighters plus defectors from Lon Nol's FANK. These defectors who joined the Khmer Rouge were never fully trusted by the original Khmer Rouge cadres. They were later were purged by Pol Pot, when thousands of Khmer Rouges soldiers and officers were ordered killed by the Khmer Rouge leadership. Similarly to the other forces, the RAK was organised up to division level and was under command of the Chief of the General Staff General Son Sen and General Ta Mok. The RAK's strength was an impressive 375,000 man, fully armed military force, supplied by Communist China and some Eastern bloc states. However, the RAK did not operate efficiently, due to many Vietnamese double agents hidden among them.[citation needed] When Democratic Kampuchea launched an invasion into an area of southern Vietnam known as Prey Nokor when it was Cambodia territory prior 1949, the Vietnamese forces were caught off guard. Then their double agents in the Khmer Rouge forces proved valuable. These double agents were later found out to have become members of the Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (KPRAF), the armed forces of the People's Republic of Kampuchea.
Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (KPRAF)
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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 organisation 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 partly resolved through the Paris Peace Accords signed in Paris October 1991. In reality KPRAF still dominated three factions of resistance groups. KPRAF integrated the Khmer Rough surrendering troops, KPNLF, ANKI and continue to dominated these groups even after integrations.
Re-establishment of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces
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 consisted of two priministers. The armed forces of all parties, except the NADK, were integrated into one national armed force and later NADK integrated in 1998 after Pol Pot death. In reality KPRAF totally dominated these three integrated gurrilla groups. Commanders of KPNLF,ANKI, KR were later replaced one by one with KPRAF loyalist commanders.
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 defections NADK 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 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 demobilise to an acceptable size, achieve sound capability, and inculcate high ethics and dignity, with advancement towards international standardisation in the future. The RCAF also has to plan for its agenda to include security co-operation for the common benefit of the whole region.
Royal Gendarmerie of Cambodia
The Royal Gendarmerie of Cambodia is a paramilitary unit with 10,000 soldiers deployed in all provinces. It is headquartered in Phnom Penh. The unit's chain of command is through the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces High Command and commanded by a Lieutenant General, currently Lt-General Sao Sokha. Lt-General Sao Sokha was one of the commanders that defeated FUNCINPEC forces in coupe in July 1997. The Royal Gendarmerie of Cambodia is deployed in every province and cities to keep law and order. After the penal procedure code had been passed the military police in Cambodia play an important role in Cambodia society which keep law and orders in cities like the National Police, an important tasks that had been revoked sub decree in 2002. Every provincial gendarmerie is commanded by a colonel, after 1 January 2009 by a brigadier general, except in the capital of Phnom Penh where it is commanded by brigadier general since it is created. [8]
See also
- Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Armed Forces
- History of Cambodia
- Cambodian Civil War
- Lon Nol
- Khmer Republic
- Khmer National Armed Forces
- Weapons of the Cambodian Civil War
- Khmer Rouge
- Meas Sophea
- Hun Sen
References
- ^ Grevatt, Jon. "Cambodia announces 17% increase in 2016 defence budget". IHS Janes 360. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
- ^ http://china-defense.blogspot.com/2011/05/mini-pla-in-making.html
- ^ Yemen was Bulgaria's Biggest Arms Export Partner in 2010 - UN, Novinite, 9 August 2011
- ^ http://www.tuoitrenews.vn/cmlink/tuoitrenews/politics/memorial-symbolises-vietnam-cambodia-ties-1.57111
- ^ http://news.gov.vn/Home/National-historical-relic-inaugurated-in-Dong-Nai/20121/12901.vgp
- ^ a b Ian Ramage, Strong Fighting: Sexual Behavior and HIV/AIDS in the Cambodian Uniformed Services, 2002
- ^ Cambodia Daily 3 September 2001
- ^ RGC Official site
Further reading
- Dylan Hendrickson, 'Cambodia's security-sector reforms: limits of a downsizing strategy,' Conflict, Security, and Development, Volume 1, Issue 1.
- Gerald Segal and Mats Berdal, 'The Cambodia Dilemma,' Jane's Intelligence Review, March 1993, p. 131-2. Includes listing of formations and equipment of the various factions.
- Robert Karniol, 'Confined to local waters,' Naval Forces Update, Jane's Defence Weekly, 20 June 1992, p. 1097. Status of Cambodian navy.
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