Phnom Penh (VNA) – Acting Head of State of Cambodia Hun Sen has signed a royal decree promulgating the country’s law on military conscription, under which draft evaders face prison terms of six months to two years in peacetime and two to five years in wartime.
The law, comprised of eight chapters and 20 articles, was officially announced on May 25 after about a month of review and appraisal by many high-level bodies.
Under the law, Cambodian citizens aged between 18 and 25 years old must fulfill military duty for two years. However, for women, it is voluntary.
Military obligation also applies to Cambodians with dual nationality who are living in Cambodia, the law says, adding that those exempted from the duty include monks, priests, and people with disabilities.
Anyone evading military obligation will face six months to five years in jail and a fine, depending on the aggravation and circumstances, according to the law./.