Military training

THE Cambodian army plans to relocate a major military base in Kampong Speu province’s Phnom Srouch district, fearing that live-fire training exercises by troops could pose a danger to local communities, a military official said.

Ith Sarath, deputy commander of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, said that the headquarters of Military Region 3 would soon be shifted from Prey Thnout commune to Prey Kmek commune in order to ensure the safety of local residents.

“They use real bullets.... We are afraid that their exercises will have an effect on people living nearby the exercise site,” he said yesterday.

Ith Sarath said the population had increased to a point at which RCAF could no longer guarantee the safety of those living close to the base.

“[Soldiers] normally exercise every day, and the site we are moving to is not inhabited by too many people,” he said. He said a date had not yet been set for the move, but promised it would happen “soon”.

Tep Mean, the governor of Phnom Srouch district, said he was not aware of the reason for the relocation of the base.