It its publication of November 23, 2001 the Phnom Penh Post's article on page 6 entitled

"Demobilization's house of mirrors" has reported that I, Sisowath Sirirath,

had mentioned in the King College's magazine of October, 2000 which is based in London,

that there were between 20,000 and 30,000 soldiers only in the Royal Cambodian Armed

Forces (RCAF).

Therefore I wish to set the record straight as follows:

1. The number of RCAF soldiers reported in the Phnom Penh Post is baseless and incorrect.

   I wish to draw the attention of loyal readers that they chould base all my interviews

   about the RCAF with the Cambodia Daily since 1999 until now.

    

2. I have never given any interview to reporters of King College magazine.

    

3. I wish to reiterate that since the RCAF demobilization program started in January

   until now [end of November] there are 119,000 soldiers currently serving in the armed

   forces.

ñ Sisowath Sirirath, Co-Minister of Defense

Brad Adams replies:

Co-Minister of Defense Prince Sisowath Sirirath gave a figure of 'between 20,000-30,000

soldiers in RCAF' to King's College researcher Dylan Hendrickson in October, 2000.

Hendrickson worked for Funcinpec from 1991-93 and now works at the King's College

Centre for Defence Studies in London. The reference can be found in the April 2001

issue of the 'Journal of Conflict, Security & Development,' page 75 and page

81, footnote 23.