Phnom Penh, Cambodia News: Eight people, including 1 woman, were arrested by Kampong Speu police working with Kampot police and Pursat police at the end of September 2018, on charges of weapons trafficking and causing a threat to the government after the election. They were sent to the court on September 30, 2018.

The police are still searching for the ringleader and other members of what they say is a rebel band preparing to overthrow the government. The police confiscated 25 guns which were hidden in the ground in Kampong Speu, 2 in Chhouk district, Kampot, and 1 in Pursat. Besides the guns, the police also found two magazines, 17 AK bullets, and 20 bullets of M16.

The suspects confessed that they wanted to rebel against the government and said they were looking around for a source of financial backing for their new group .

Lieutenant Ei Sokkhim, director of Director of the Department of Counterterrorism and Transnational Crime of the Ministry of the Interior, confirmed that eight suspects were arrested and sent to court. The spokesman, Mr. Ly Sophana, said the suspects were charged with preparing an armed force and illegally possessing explosives and weapons, according to articles 485,486,488 of the penal code. The case was sent to the judge for questioning.

Probably want more than one bullet each for a genuine revolution. Is this a plant? Why have they got all those AKs and only one magazine for them?

cptrelentless wrote:Probably want more than one bullet each for a genuine revolution. Is this a plant? Why have they got all those AKs and only one magazine for them?

Remote province, charges of revolution made after the election. Old weapons, not even enough magazines for each AK. Smells of set up. Was this reported on Freshnews first?

Or maybe poachers or timber cutters who haven’t paid enough tea money?

It's the KNLF (Khmer National Liberation Front) again.

Cambodia charges 8 people with organizing combat group, trafficking firearms
Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-02 15:40:34
PHNOM PENH, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- A Cambodian court has charged eight people with organizing a combat group and trafficking weapons, a court spokesman said on Tuesday.

Authorities arrested them last week in separate operations in Phnom Penh City, Kampot province, and Pursat province, and seized a total of 28 AK-47 assault rifles.

"The prosecutor has decided to charge them with participating in a combat group, organizing a combat group, and trafficking weapons and explosives under the Articles 485, 486 and 488 of the Criminal Code," Phnom Penh Municipal Court spokesman Ly Sophana told reporters.

Under the charges, if convicted, the suspects can be jailed between 8 and 18 years.

According to a police report, the suspects are allegedly linked to the Denmark-based Khmer National Liberation Front (KNLF), which has been branded a terrorist group by the Cambodian government.
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-1 ... 507307.htm

It’s not the same as during the KR era. Mainland China isn’t backing them, neither is Russia, nor the current king. Iron man could wipe them out without breaking a sweat. Why hasn’t it happened yet?

newkidontheblock wrote: ↑Tue Oct 02, 2018 11:46 pm It’s not the same as during the KR era. Mainland China isn’t backing them, neither is Russia, nor the current king. Iron man could wipe them out without breaking a sweat. Why hasn’t it happened yet?

Supported by Denmark apparently.
(That's a joke btw.)

In answer to your question, NKOTB, I don't know, but it might be useful to have some outlaws to blame the arms traffic on. Also, a few arrests from time to time show that you haven't lost your edge in terms of arresting any "traitors" (message to certain others), you are still protecting the country, the presence of "armed resistance" inside the country gives you a valid reason why you need to crack down on dissent, why you need 2000 generals etc.
They pose no real problem, but you can keep them around to arrest or blame whenever it suits you. Win-win, I think it's called.

Cambodian Exile Denies Link to Arms-Smuggling Case
2018-10-02
Eight persons arrested in Cambodia last week and accused of smuggling arms are not members of the Khmer National Liberation Front despite government claims, a KNLF leader told RFA’s Khmer Service on Tuesday.

Speaking to RFA from exile in Denmark, Sam Serey—long wanted by the Cambodian government for operating what it calls a terrorist group—said the eight taken into custody in three Cambodian provinces have no connection to his organization.

“Those people are not members of the KNLF,” Serey said, speaking to RFA via Skype. “We have no connection with violence.”

“The Cambodian government is making up this plot to defame me and the KNLF because I met with U.N. special rapporteur Rhona Smith last week,” he said.
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambod ... 60120.html