Phnom Penh (FN), Dec. 12 – Prime Minister Hun Sen on Tuesday said that Cambodian national armed forces will be neutral only with political parties, but will not with the government because their role is to protect the government.

PM Hun Sen’s statement came after Sam Rainsy, the former dissolved party president, illegally incited national armed forces to topple the ruling government.

“The army or armed forces are set up to defend the government, so being neutral doesn't exist. If someone did something wrong, the government has rights to command the froces to suppress you for illegal acts,” stated PM Hun Sen.

The premier added, "The political party has no right to command the army, but the government that came out of the election has the right to order the armed forces. I do not command the army in the name of the Cambodian People's Party's (CPP) president, but I command the army on behalf of me as a prime minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia.”

Meanwhile, the representative of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court has summoned Sam Rainsy to appear in court on January 11, 2018, to clarify charges of inciting an army to rebel against the government.
=FRESH NEWS