Hun Manet
| Hun Manet | |
|---|---|
| Born |
October 20, 1977 Memot, Kampong Cham, Cambodia (now in Tbong Khmum) |
| Allegiance |
 Kingdom of Cambodia |
| Service/branch | Royal Cambodian Army |
| Years of service | 2009–present |
| Rank |
 Lieutenant general[1] |
| Commands held |
Prime Minister's Bodyguard Unit RCAF Joint Staff National Counterterrorism Task Force |
| Battles/wars | Cambodian–Thai border dispute |
| Awards |
Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Cambodia National Defense Medal |
| Spouse(s) | Pich Chanmony |
Hun Manet (Khmer: ហ៊ុន ម៉ាណែត; born October 20, 1977) is a lieutenant general in the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) and the first son of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. He was previously a colonel and major general in the RCAF and was promoted to lieutenant general on June 19, 2013.[2] He is the first Cambodian ever to have graduated at the United States Military Academy, on May 29, 1999.[3]
Biography
Hun Manet was born on October 20, 1977 in Koh Thmar Village, Memot District, Kampong Cham during the Khmer Rouge rule of Cambodia as the second son of Hun Sen and Bun Rany. On the night of his birth, a bright light flew over the roof of the house, of which Hun Sen believed his son was born from a supernatural being that is worshipped in Koh Thmar Village.[4]
Hun Manet is a West Point graduate, having received his diploma on May 29, 1999. He is the first Cambodia alumnus of the academy, and one of only seven foreign cadets to graduate that year.[3] He also received a phD in economics at the University of Bristol in 2007.
Military service
Hun Manet joined the army in 1995, the same year he entered the United States Military Academy. He became Major General in January 2011, just months after being named Deputy Commander of the Prime Minister's Bodyguard Unit and deputy chairman of the RCAF Joint Staff.[1] Manet played a prominent role in negotiations during the 2008 Cambodian-Thai stand-off. On June 19, 2013, he was promoted to lieutenant general. Analysts often view Hun Manet as being groomed in taking Hun Sen's place.[5] His younger brother, Hun Manith, also serves in the army, as brigadier general.
References
- 1 2 Saing Soenthrith and Paul Vrieze (January 30, 2012). "Hun Sen's Second Son In Meteoric Rise Through RCAF Ranks". The Cambodia Daily. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
- ↑ Cheang Sokha (July 24, 2013). "Hun Sen's sons given military promotions". The Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
- 1 2 "Like father, like son in Cambodia". Asia Times. March 17, 2011. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
- ↑ Vannarin, Neou (May 3, 2013). "Hun Sen Tells of Eldest Son's Supernatural Arrival". The Cambodia Daily. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
- ↑ "Election List May Widen Divide in Hun Sen's Party". Radio Free Asia. February 22, 2013. Retrieved June 22, 2014.