Phnom Penh (FN), June 30 - Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Tea Banh, on Saturday, transferred key acting positions to General Sao Sokha, Commander of National Gendarmerie, and Lieutenant General Hun Manet, Deputy Commander of Army of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), at the Ministry of National Defense.

The first key acting position is the Acting Commander-in-Chief of RCAF, which was awarded to Gen. Sao Sokha, and the second and third position is the Acting Chief of Joint Staff and Acting Army Commander to Lieutenant General Hun Manet.

The transfer came after the suspension of the three military dignitaries to stand for election candidates representing the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) for the 6th mandate election.

The three major military commanders are General Pol Saroeun, Commander in Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) representing Sihanoukville constituency; Gen. Kun Kim, Joint Chief of Staff of RCAF, Oddar Meanchey; and General Meas Sophea, Deputy Commander in Chief of RCAF and Army Commander, Preah Vihear.

Article 25 of the Law on Elections of Members of the National Assembly states that “Candidates for election as members of the National Assembly or members of the executive committee of a political party shall not be members of the National Election Committee or Election Commissions”.

Minister Tea Banh will also preside over the groundbreaking ceremony of the establishment of the new Defense Ministry office in the Ministry of National Defense.
=FRESH NEWS