Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday called for increased vigilance from the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces in ensuring safety and security ahead of the upcoming commune elections and ASEAN summit.

Speaking at the close of the Ministry of Interior’s annual meeting yesterday, the premier did not name specific threats to national security, but highlighted the importance of security during the two upcoming events.

“The Ministry of Interior has to pay strong attention to tightening security to ensure the safety for delegations and officials and partners of ASEAN and to protect the political environment for free and fair commune elections,” Hun Sen said, speaking before a delegation of about 500 high-ranking police officials at the Interior Ministry.

Commune elections are scheduled to take place on June 3 this year.

“All these important affairs will increase the burden on all armed forces, especially for the Ministry of Interior, which is why it is necessary to increase strong attention [on security],” the premier said.

The Premier added that Cambodia was still a “fragile” Kingdom and pointed to the results of a 2011 Ministry of Interior report, which highlighted regional and global security issues such as terrorism and drug and human trafficking.

He also said that 3,600 Cambodians were killed and 10,000 injured during traffic-based and weapons-based accidents last year. Weapons-based accidents included accidental shootings and mine explosions.