CAMBODIA: Govt Urges Youth Support for Conscription Rollout

Posted by Asia Views | Sep 29, 2026 | 0 |

KhmerTimes-Sept 28, 2026

The Ministry of National Defense and the National Military Conscription Committee have called on parents and citizens to support young people as they prepare to fulfil their military service obligations, which will begin on October 1. National Defense Minister General Tea Seiha said in a special message yesterday that family and societal support is crucial to preparing young people for service and helping them understand the objectives behind the law. Gen Seiha added that fulfilling service obligations would provide opportunities for training and strengthen knowledge, skills, discipline, mutual assistance and responsibility. Such training could also enhance physical fitness, mindset, experience and self-confidence—qualities that could benefit youth in their studies, careers and lives after completing service. Gen Seiha said that the selection process must adhere to established criteria and procedures, with transparency and equality given priority. Authorities are expected to advise youth to monitor official announcements to understand requirements, documentation and application procedures. According to a notice from the National Military Conscription Committee, application forms will be distributed from October 1 to 9, while the submission period will run from October 10 to 15. Military Conscription Committee Permanent Deputy Chairman Phuong Siphan called on eligible citizens to collect and submit applications within the designated timeframe to comply with the Law on Military Obligation.

Cambodia promulgated its conscription law in May 2026, requiring young men aged 18 to 25 to serve 24 months in the armed forces. The law also applies to dual nationals living in the country and provides exemptions for monks, priests and people with disabilities. Anyone who evades military service can face six months to five years in prison and a fine, depending on the circumstances and severity of the offence. Read more at:

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/502031409/govt-urges-youth-support-for-conscription-rollout/

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EXTRICATING NDONESIAN CHILDREN FROM ISIS INFLUENCE ABROAD

Indonesia urgently needs to revisit the possibility of repatriating the neediest of its young citizens stranded abroad, whose families had earlier joined ISIS. Most of these children are in camps in northern Syria but there are also small numbers in the Philippines, Afghanistan and Iraq. “Extricating Indonesian Children from ISIS Influence Abroad”, the latest report from the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict (IPAC) argues that the government could begin by bringing back small groups of unaccompanied children under ten years of age, who pose minimal security risk and are most vulnerable to deteriorating conditions in the camps.“The problem is that health and security conditions are worsening by the day in the Syrian camps, and the children are growing older,” says Dyah Kartika, IPAC analyst. “They need access to schools, a nurturing environment, and medical attention. If the government waits too long, the children will be further exposed to ISIS ideology.” The new report examines a 2019 list of Indonesians in camps and prisons run by the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The Indonesian government has been trying to verify their citizenship, but with pseudonyms, misspellings and bad transliterations, it is a daunting task. At the time the data was collected, between March and June 2019, there were 555 Indonesians in SDF camps and prisons, including 367 children. Among the children, approximately 277 were under the age of ten and 34 were unaccompanied. In June 2021, there are fewer than ten children who are both unaccompanied and under the age of ten that could be prioritized for return. Bringing back children of ISIS families is no easy task. The report analyses the main challenges faced by the Indonesian government. These include definitional issues, bureaucratic competition, the difficulty of verifying nationality, evaluating the toll of exposure to conflict, assessing security risk, and finding relatives or others willing to provide care once the children are returned. In addition, COVID has meant stringent restrictions on travel, placing further obstacles in the way of repatriation. There are several models for rehabilitation of children exposed to violent extremism in Indonesia that could be modified to accommodate the needs of children repatriated from abroad. The report examines these models and argues that the government does not need to have every detail of rehabilitation programs in place before it starts extricating children from ISIS influence. It can start by bringing back the most vulnerable children and then modify programs as needed.

“It’s important that the government see these children as victims” says Dyah. “They deserve a chance to be children again.”

CAMBODIA: Govt Urges Youth Support for Conscription Rollout

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