Cambodia Appoints New Head of Anti-Torture Committee Secretariat, Interior Minister Urges Strengthening of Unit

Lieutenant General Chea Dara, Deputy Director-General of the Internal Audit General Department, has been transferred and appointed as the new head of the Secretariat of the National Committee for Combating Torture, replacing Major General Nut Satya, who has been appointed as an advisor to the Ministry of Interior. The official handover ceremony took place on the morning of July 21, 2026, presided over by H.E. Sar Sokha, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior. H.E. Sar Sokha stated during the ceremony that the transfer and appointment of the new head of the Secretariat are in line with the government's human resource management principles, based on competence and experience, to strengthen institutional efficiency and respond to new challenges. He emphasized that this change is not a rejection of past achievements but a continuation to strengthen and develop existing accomplishments for further progress. He praised and highly commended Major General Nut Satya, the former head of the Secretariat of the National Committee for Combating Torture, for his diligent efforts in fulfilling his duties with high responsibility in leadership, coordination, and enhancing work efficiency in the past. He noted that these results and achievements are valuable foundations for the Secretariat to continue developing in the future. For Lieutenant General Chea Dara, who has just taken on the position of the new head of the Secretariat, the Minister of Interior also provided several recommendations as a basis for future leadership and task implementation. These include having a clear vision in leadership, strengthening solidarity and teamwork, as well as enhancing the efficiency of the Secretariat's work. Furthermore, he urged to promote the capacity of officials, strengthen the use of digital technology, enhance national and international cooperation, pay attention to the collection and analysis of statistical data, and increase public relations, raise awareness, and build collaborative networks with civil society organizations. It should be noted that the National Committee for Combating Torture is a newly established committee by Royal Decree on the Establishment of the National Committee for Combating Torture, Atrocities, Inhuman Acts, Persecution, or Punishment. The National Committee for Combating Torture was established with the aim of preventing and combating all forms of torture and other acts, to strengthen the protection of all persons deprived of liberty from torture. The National Committee has the scope to implement its activities in all places of detention of persons within Cambodia. Currently, H.E. Sien LaPresse is the President of the National Committee for Combating Torture.