Is it just me or does there seem to be a significant increase of armed police in PP?

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xandreu
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Is it just me or does there seem to be a significant increase of armed police in PP?

Post by xandreu »

I've noticed recently, in the most innocent of places, such as outside shopping malls, men in green uniforms with rifles hung over their shoulders, chatting idly with colleagues.

What's that all about? I don't remember seeing things like that before and I've been here for a couple of years.

I don't understand the police structure in Cambodia. I'm never sure if someone is a 'kind of' policeman (ie, with no real power, just there to make an extra buck or two out of minor traffic offences), an actual policeman, or a member of the military who happens to be performing the duties typically assigned to (what we westerners would think of) a policeman.

When they're armed, it says to me that they're the real deal.

But why am I noticing them more and more as of late?
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Re: Is it just me or does there seem to be a significant increase of armed police in PP?

Post by Cinnamoncat »

xandreu wrote: Fri Feb 08, 2019 11:47 pm I've noticed recently, in the most innocent of places, such as outside shopping malls, men in green uniforms with rifles hung over their shoulders, chatting idly with colleagues.

What's that all about? I don't remember seeing things like that before and I've been here for a couple of years.

I don't understand the police structure in Cambodia. I'm never sure if someone is a 'kind of' policeman (ie, with no real power, just there to make an extra buck or two out of minor traffic offences), an actual policeman, or a member of the military who happens to be performing the duties typically assigned to (what we westerners would think of) a policeman.

When they're armed, it says to me that they're the real deal.

But why am I noticing them more and more as of late?
Is this year an election year?
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Re: Is it just me or does there seem to be a significant increase of armed police in PP?

Post by Artisan »

They have always been there, it is just the camouflage that wears off after a while.
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Re: Is it just me or does there seem to be a significant increase of armed police in PP?

Post by xandreu »

Cinnamoncat wrote: Fri Feb 08, 2019 11:56 pm
xandreu wrote: Fri Feb 08, 2019 11:47 pm I've noticed recently, in the most innocent of places, such as outside shopping malls, men in green uniforms with rifles hung over their shoulders, chatting idly with colleagues.

What's that all about? I don't remember seeing things like that before and I've been here for a couple of years.

I don't understand the police structure in Cambodia. I'm never sure if someone is a 'kind of' policeman (ie, with no real power, just there to make an extra buck or two out of minor traffic offences), an actual policeman, or a member of the military who happens to be performing the duties typically assigned to (what we westerners would think of) a policeman.

When they're armed, it says to me that they're the real deal.

But why am I noticing them more and more as of late?
Is this year an election year?
Not as far as I'm aware. The elections were last year and were won by the ruling Cambodian People's Party by a landslide.

Which indicates to me something else is going on?
The difference between animals and humans is that animals would never allow the dumb ones to lead the pack.
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Re: Is it just me or does there seem to be a significant increase of armed police in PP?

Post by xandreu »

Artisan wrote: Fri Feb 08, 2019 11:59 pm They have always been there, it is just the camouflage that wears off after a while.
No they haven't. I've noticed them three or four times in the past week or two whereas I've never noticed them before in the two years I've been here.
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Re: Is it just me or does there seem to be a significant increase of armed police in PP?

Post by pczz »

xandreu wrote: Sat Feb 09, 2019 12:03 am
Artisan wrote: Fri Feb 08, 2019 11:59 pm They have always been there, it is just the camouflage that wears off after a while.
No they haven't. I've noticed them three or four times in the past week or two whereas I've never noticed them before in the two years I've been here.
There have also been a lot more convoys around. Apparently several thousand foreign investors with money are coming in every month to look at wonderful apartments.
To be fair i am nocturmal and I have noticed a ramp up in security patrols. usuall get 2 armed gendarmerie come round at least 2 or times between 11 pm and 4 am. Never notuiced that before either.
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Re: Is it just me or does there seem to be a significant increase of armed police in PP?

Post by fax »

They are hired and paid to guard the post the same way you've always had AK-47 beige uniforms by the jewellery sellers around markets.

They are staff paid to guard and protect.

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50527683/h ... -security/
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Re: Is it just me or does there seem to be a significant increase of armed police in PP?

Post by Anchor Moy »

Cinnamoncat wrote: Fri Feb 08, 2019 11:56 pm
Is this year an election year?
I guess it is.


Cambodia set to hold local council election in May
By
Xinhua Net -
February 10, 2019

Cambodia is scheduled to hold the third election for 4,114 municipal, provincial and district councilors on May 26, the National Election Committee (NEC) said on Saturday.

The non-universal election will be voted by 11,572 sitting commune chiefs and councilors – typically along party lines – for the municipal, provincial, and district councilors.

In full: http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-0 ... 809448.htm

© 2019, The Cambodia Daily. All rights reserved No part of this article may be reproduced in print, electronically, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without written permission.
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Re: Is it just me or does there seem to be a significant increase of armed police in PP?

Post by JUDGEDREDD »

Seen a few road traffic stops in Siam Reap these past few days, not that I've been here long enough to forge a conclusion however when I was here in November I saw just the one officer on pub street, literally in ear shot of the tuktuk driver trying to shot me white lol...
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Re: Is it just me or does there seem to be a significant increase of armed police in PP?

Post by PSD-Kiwi »

It's just you, there has been no noticeable increase in armed Police or Military presence in PP...when there is you will definitely notice it.
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