PHNOM PENH, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia sent the first batch of 216 military personnel to join a United Nations peacekeeping operation in the Central African Republic (CAR) on Wednesday, officials said.
The peacekeepers will conduct their one-year mission in Bria town, about 600 km east of CAR's Bangui capital, doing work in demining, constructing roads, bridges and barracks, and digging wells, Defense Minister Gen. Tea Banh said at the departure ceremony held at the Military Airbase in Phnom Penh.
"Our mission is to join the other UN peacekeepers to stabilize the situation in the Central African Republic," he said.
He added that the Cambodian government has a strong commitment to contributing to the building of global peace through sending troops to join the UN peacekeeping mission in war-torn countries.
Meanwhile, the minister advised them to strictly abide by CAR' s laws and international laws so as to maintain the disciplines and dignity of the Cambodian Royal Armed Forces.
"Our peacekeepers must avoid any activity that can negatively affect the standards of living, tradition and customs, and dignity of the host country," he said.
Roger Carter, security advisor of the United Nations Development Program to Cambodia, appreciated Cambodia for its active contribution to global peace and security, saying that Cambodia stands out as an example to the world. "The ceremony today reminds us of the event from 22 years ago when UN peacekeeping forces were sent here, but Cambodia now sends troops and expertise to the UN peacekeeping operations in Sudan, South Sudan, CAR, Chad, Syria, Lebanon and Mali," he said. "Your dedication to helping others, sharing your skills with another country suffering from conflict, will be a source of inspiration to many."
A civil war in CAR broke out in Dec. 2012 between mostly Muslim Seleka rebels and the government forces. Seleka rebels took power from then president Francois Bozize in March 2013 and the rebels' leader Michel Djotodia declared himself as president.
Thousands of people are believed to have been killed in CAR, and 2.2 million, about half the population, need humanitarian aid in the sectarian conflict.
Sporadic violence has continued to plague CAR despite Michel Djotodia 's resignation from the presidency in January and the formation of a transition government led by Catherine Samba-Panza.
Cambodia first dispatched troops abroad in April 2006 under the UN umbrella. So far, the Southeast Asian nation has sent a total number of 2,165 personnel to UN peacekeeping missions.
1 comment:
How will Hun sen’s government deal Ebola if some of these soldiers catch the virus?
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