PHNOM PENH, April 23 (Xinhua) -- The Cambodian government on Thursday approved a new draft law on military conscription, which requires young male-adults to fulfill military obligation.
The approval was made during a weekly cabinet meeting, which was chaired by Prime Minister Hun Manet, said a government's press release issued after the meeting.
The draft law aims at building the capacity of the armed forces, the press release said.
"Under this draft law, all Cambodian citizens aged between 18 and 25 years old are required to fulfill military obligation," the press release said.
However, for women, it will be implemented under the "voluntary principle," the press release added.
The draft bill will need to be adopted by the National Assembly and finally reviewed by the Senate before being submitted to King Norodom Sihamoni for promulgation.
According to the press release, the Southeast Asian country had a law on compulsory military service in 2006, but it did not yet cover all aspects at the present and in the future, so the government has decided to make this law again. ■