PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodia ’s new conscription law, which establishes penalties of up to five years in prison for those who evade military service, has come into effect, the country's Prime Minister Hun Manet said Monday.
The law was signed on Saturday by Senate president Hun Sen in his capacity as acting head of state while King Norodom Sihamoni undergoes medical treatment for prostate cancer in China.
The initiative for a new conscription law followed significant border fighting with Thailand that flared twice last year, resulting in approximately 100 deaths and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people.
The new law consists of eight chapters and 20 articles, replacing a 2006 statute that was never implemented and was considered outdated. It now requires Cambodian men aged 18 to 25 to serve two years in the military, while women may serve voluntarily. Individuals summoned for service must appear within 30 days of receiving notice or be considered as evading duty, unless a valid excuse is provided.
Penalties for evasion vary according to whether Cambodia is at peace or at war.
During peacetime, an individual may face six months to two years in prison and a fine of $250 to $1,000. During war or a foreign attack, the penalties increase to between two and five years in prison and a fine ranging from $1,000 to $2,500.
Exemptions to serving are granted to monks, priests, persons with disabilities and those with specialized skills in science and technology. After completing their required service, individuals become part of reserve forces until age 45.
Hun Manet, in addressing lawmakers earlier this month, described the law as a foundation for cultivating the minds of Cambodian youth to love their nation, foster patriotism and develop a willingness to serve in the military to protect their country.
FILE - Cambodian military members participate together with government civil servants in the country's 70th Independence Day, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith, file)
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Monday that she has “no issue” with her country hosting Iran's World Cup team after its training base was moved from the United States to Mexico for the summer soccer competition.
The team will still play its matches in the U.S. but its base has been moved to Tijuana, Mexico, just south of San Diego, California, according to Iran's soccer federation. The development comes against the backdrop of the war in Iran, which the U.S. and Israel launched on Feb. 28.
Sheinbaum said at a news conference Monday that she was told by a FIFA representative the U.S. was reluctant to have the Iranian soccer team spend time outside the games on U.S. territory.
“The United States doesn’t want the Iranian national team to stay overnight in the United States,” Sheinbaum told reporters. She said a FIFA representative had then asked, “Can they stay overnight in Mexico?”
“And we said, ‘Yes, no problem. We have no issue with that',” she said.
Iran's soccer team is slated to play matches in Inglewood, California, against New Zealand on June 15 and against Belgium six days later, before facing Egypt on June 26 in Seattle.
Before the war broke out, the team was originally planned to set up its base in Tucson, Arizona. But with tensions simmering, Iran's team moved its base to Tijuana in Mexico, Sheinbaum said, confirming an announcement by the Iranian federation over the weekend. The federation said the Iranians had received approval from FIFA, though it has not confirmed the move.
Teams use base camps to train before and after matches. This year’s World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19 and will be co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
The possibility of a move had simmered for months in the uncertainty surrounding the war in the Middle East and security concerns. U.S. sanctions on Iran were likely to only make the team’s stay in the U.S. more complex.
The U.S. State Department said in a statement on Monday that President Donald Trump had made it clear the Iranian team was welcome to participate in the tournament.
The department’s statement did not address where the team might stay, or Sheinbaum's comments.
Sheinbaum said that her government was working with FIFA to hash out all the details before the competition.
Iran's national soccer team players stand onstage as they are greeted by a crowd during a pro-government gathering before their departure for training and friendly matches in Turkey ahead of the World Cup at Islamic Revolution Square in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, May 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
