PM Blames Military for Failing to Shoot Down Drones
Prime Minister Hun Sen has lashed out at military commanders who failed to shoot down a new wave of drones which intruded into Cambodian territory. Photo: News Department
- By Torn Chanritheara
- June 28, 2023 2:15 PM
PHNOM PENH – Prime Minister Hun Sen has lashed out at military commanders who failed to shoot down a new wave of drones which intruded into Cambodian territory.
The PM had sent 500 troops and 200 anti-aircraft weapons to Ratanakiri province to intercept drones flying across the border from an ethnic unrest trouble spot in Vietnam.
He said on June 28 that drones had crossed the border every night for a week.
Five more flew over Mondulkiri’s Koh Nhek district under Military Region 1 jurisdiction the previous evening but not a single bullet had been fired and he did not get any report about the intrusion.
“Why don’t you shoot?” he said, apparently referring to commanders of Region 1 and the provincial military sub-region. “You are too gentle. Drones should have been shot last night.”
Hun Sen told military chief Vong Pisen, who was standing behind him, “Ask them: do you still want to be commanders?”
The drone intrusions have come after an armed attack in the central province of Vietnam which was linked to the Montagnards, a group of tribes with historical grievances against the Vietnamese government.
Hun Sen urged the military to use its air defense systems, known as sky net.
“Since we don’t shoot, more drones have been sent. We can spend 1 to 2 million rounds of ammunition to shoot them down.”
The PM said he was suspicious that drones might fly from a specific country or from a ship. He did not elaborate but warned any country hosting the group behind what he called a terrorist act.
He also announced a $200,000 reward for any unit which shoots down a drone so that the identity of those involved can be found.
He said that Cambodia will appeal to United Nations after an investigation.
“I urge other countries to consider this as it is a complete violation of Cambodia’s independence and sovereignty,” he said.
“We asked Vietnam and Vietnam did not even know. Vietnam said it has no interest in launching a drone without notifying Cambodia. I believe it is not from Vietnam.”
