Cambodian military budget to be hiked
21/10/2008 17:30
The Cambodian government has proposed a massive increase in military
spending in next year's budget, national media reported today.
"I think
national defense will be one of the top priorities for the government from now
on," Cheam Yeap, a senior lawmaker with the ruling Cambodian People's Party
(CPP), was quoted by the Phnom Penh Post as saying.
The Council of Ministers
has announced it would increase defense spending by more than US$200 million
from its 2007 levels, the newspaper said, adding that the final 2008 budget
figures were not available.
Previous National Assembly budgets had been
reducing national defense funding by two to four percent annually in line with
the government's spending priorities.
But the shift was warranted, said Cheam
Yeap.
"Even if the National Assembly approves a US$500 million annual budget
(for defense), it will still not enough because our current army equipment is so
out of date," Cheam Yeap said.
"Our armed forces need proper military bases,
good wages, health care, uniforms and professional army training," he
added.
Xinhua
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