Conscription approved in Cambodia
The military says the law is needed to renew the army, composed largely of elderly people. The opposition has denounced the decision as a means to control millions of unemployed youth by absorbing them into the army.
Phnom Penh (AsiaNews/Agencies) Cambodia's national assembly has voted to introduce conscription for young men aged between 18 and 30, who will have to serve 18 months in the military. The decision came as a surprise for the international community that has been calling for a reduction of the Cambodian armed forces for years.
A military spokesman said conscription was "an important way of reinforcing the army" while Defence Minister Tea Banh said "our soldiers must be better prepared, because although they are many, they are not fit to serve.
Speaking to journalists, Banh said: "Cambodia needs to train its young people because many of our military personnel are old and physically fragile. We need our sons to serve our country in case a bad situation comes along."
But opposition leader Sam Rainsy pointed to another reason for the decision. "Every year, 300,000 youth reach the age of 18 and cannot find jobs. Conscription is just a way to control these young jobless people and to avoid social unrest."
Analysts say Cambodia's unemployment situation is likely to get worse as around half the population has yet to reach 18 years of age. As the population gets older, the national economy will find an increasing number of unemployed people on its hands. Decades of internal conflict led to enormous militarization of the country and although demobilization efforts have been under way for more than a decade, they have not produced substantial results.
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