C o-premiers HRH Prince Norodom Ranariddh and HE Samdech Hun Sen have appointed

General Chhim Chhorn to command former Khmer Rouge soldiers who have joined the

Royal Cambodian Armed Forces.

The Royal Government has claimed that

thousands of KR fighters have defected since the general elections last May

under a policy of national reconciliation promoted by His Majesty King Norodom

Sihanouk.

In Battambang province alone the number of KR returnees reached

3,364 by December, the government claimed.