Cambodia People's Armed Forces (CPAF)
From early 1979, the effect of the Cold War brought about a new security dimension to Cambodia: an increased effort to prevent the return of the genocidal regime, and a movement against the Vietnamese occupation of Cambodia. The Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Armed Forces, which in 1989 changed its name to the Cambodia People's Armed Forces (CPAF) of the Phnom Penh government, was rebuilt consistent with the socialist system, and with the support of Vietnam, the former USSR, and other socialist countries.
The Army evolved from battalions to divisions. Besides this simple reorganization of military structure, the Phnom Penh government also set up other command and coordinating systems such as military regions and provincial unified commands. Further, to support its security plans across the country, and to fill out regular units during operations, the government established armed militia in communes and villages. The USSR and Vietnam provided various material and training. In addition, before its final withdrawal from Cambodia in 1989, the Vietnamese troops helped to strengthen the fighting spirit and combat techniques of the CPAF.
The creation of the Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea (CGDK) on 22 June 1982 – based on the Khmer Rouge Constitution, having the Khmer Rouge as the core force, and as a government recognized by the UN – extended armed conflict in Cambodia, and allowed the Khmer Rouge to exist until early 1999.
Because of the factors described above and the influence of the Cold War’s ideological contest, and the interference of some global powers, Cambodia became bogged down in a disastrous tragedy within an insecure environment. This remained the case for the more than 20 years after 1970, and was only resolved through the free and democratic elections of 1993. Cambodia was forced to accept the consequences of the spread of the Second Indochina War, which saw the nation’s towns, rural communities and farmlands become fields for new weaponry tests, as well as the frontline for Super Power ideological competitions.
External warring powers were also responsible for leaving another insidious legacy to the people of Cambodia, landmines and unexploded ordnance. With no care and no responsibility, these warring powers imported these criminal weapons into the nation free of charge, leaving behind them maimed and destroyed human lives, and a crippled economy and national infrastructure. Estimates suggest that Cambodia will need many years to remove such obstacles, and only at immense financial expense to the nation.
A legitimate national armed force, the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), was reestablished in 1993 following the creation of a democratically elected First-Term Government. The formation of this government was a great achievement stemming from the Paris Peace Accords, UN peacekeeping operations in Cambodia (UNTAC), and the leadership of His Majesty the King Preah Bat Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk in achieving national reconciliation and unity.
A formula whereby the armed forces of all parties were integrated into one national armed force was agreed. This new RCAF comprised 60% of the armed forces of State of Cambodia (SOC), 30% of the Front Uni Nationale pour le Cambodge Independent, Neutre, Pacifique et Cooperatif (FUNCINPEC) force, and 10% the Khmer People’s National Liberation Front (KPNLF) force. Although stubbornly boycotted by the Khmer Rouge hardliners, and a failure of UNTAC to disarm and demobilize 70% of each armed force, this establishment was reinforced by an effective political solution.
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