Premier’s son earns military promotion
Sen, was promoted to the rank of two-star general yesterday in a
ceremony at the Ministry of Defence, a move that has stoked further
speculation about the 33-year-old’s political future.
Hun Manet
currently serves as director of the anti-terrorism department at the
Ministry of Defence and was promoted in September to deputy commander
of his father’s personal bodyguard unit.
Observers have long
speculated that he is being groomed as a potential successor to Hun
Sen, having been educated at the United States Military Academy at West
Point and later at Bristol University in the United Kingdom.
In
a speech yesterday at the ceremony, Minister of Defence Tea Banh said
Hun Manet’s West Point education had prepared him to lead a new
generation of military officers within the Royal Cambodian Armed
Forces.
“This school is recognised internationally for its
distinction in political science, law and military affairs, and in his
new position, Manet must use the skills he has learned,” Tea Banh said.
“We have to let the younger generation take over our work and
ensure that our achievements are protected and that forces of evil who
want to destroy our achievements are stopped.”
Hun Manet
graduated in 1999 from West Point, where his education was financed by
the US government, according to The Associated Press. He was reportedly
granted one of the ten spots in each class at the military academy that
are reserved for foreign students, later going on to earn a PhD in
economics at Bristol.
Hang Chhaya, executive director of the
Khmer Institute for Democracy, said yesterday that Hun Manet’s
promotion provided further evidence of Hun Sen’s ambitions for his
oldest son.
“This is, again, is part of the prime minister’s attempt to consolidate power in politics,” Hang Chhaya said.
“This is the way leadership and consolidating power in Cambodia works.”
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY JAMES O’TOOLE
Khmer Breaking News 