PHNOM PENH: The Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and Commander of the Royal Cambodian Army, Lt. Gen. Hun Manet, has stated that sentimentality must be limited and all drug use among soldiers must be eliminated to protect army units and officers, while referring to the drug problem occurring in the national army.

Speaking at a ceremony on 9 July 2022, Lt. Gen. Hun Manet said that continuing to keep drug-addicted soldiers in an army unit is abusing the soldier, abusing the soldier's family and destroying other soldiers and their families as well.

He said, “If [a soldier is] an addict and distributes [drugs], it will damage others! If we do not cut this off, we sow this problem among other people. We do not hurt one person or one family, we ruin 10 people 10 families. Parents let their children to join the army for discipline, not to become addicted to drugs! Since I became the commander of the army I have practiced and changed a lot in the army units."

He further added, "I think understanding has boundaries. Some people, we give them an opportunity, for example, some people who are addicted, we take them to receive drug neutralization, then come back and [have a chance to] change themselves, this is OK! But if they do not change, please remove them. And those who distribute drugs, there is no excuse!”

Lt. Gen. Hun Manet was appointed Commander of the Royal Cambodian Army on 6 September 2018, replacing General Meas Sophea, who has been appointed as the Senior Minister in charge of Special Missions.