PHNOM PENH, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Approximately 800 new volunteer soldiers recruited in Phnom Penh have on Monday been sent for training in two military schools in the provinces of Kampong Speu and Kandal.
Prum Din, deputy commander of the Infantry Headquarters and commander of the Special Military Region, said during a see-off ceremony that the troops are among the 5,000 new recruited soldiers for 2011 in order to replace the dead, retired, and disable soldiers.
“It’s normal for a country to recruit new soldiers to defend the nation,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kep Chuk Tema, the Governor of Phnom Penh, said youth participation in army was very important to maintain national peace and to defend the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Cambodia has begun to build the capacity for its armed forces since it has border conflict with Thailand in July 2008, and periodic clashes have happened, resulted in the deaths of troops and civilians on both sides.
Thy Sopheak, one of the new soldiers, said: “my volunteer to join the army is to defend my territorial integrity, I am very happy.”
Yin Srin, the mother of a new soldier, said: “I come to see my son off to join the army; I am proud of him.”
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