Weapons Destruction Ceremony in Battambang Province

Japan Assistance Team for Small Arms Management is pleased to announce that the Weapons Destruction Ceremony organized by the Royal Government of Cambodia in cooperation with JSAC will be held in Battambang District, Battambang Province on Saturday, March 4, 2006.

Approximately, 1,800 small arms are subject to be incinerated in this ceremony. About 1,300 of them have been voluntarily surrendered from local civilians and the rest of them are surplus weapons from the Battambang Provincial Police. This is the first time for JSAC to conduct the ceremony since JSAC has started its Phase 2 Project, and it is expected that this ceremony will accelerate its weapons collection in the future. After this destruction, the number of small arms which will have been destroyed will be more than 17,000, and he total number of small arms which have been destroyed by the Royal Government of Cambodia since 1999 will be about 180,000.

There will be many guests including H.E. Sar Kheng, Deputy Prime Minister of Kingdom of Camdodia, officials of Ministry of Interior, officials of provincial government and Police in Battambang, and many local civilians. Delegates from various national and international organizations are also invited. JSAC sincerely welcomes all.

◆     Date: March 4, 2006 (Saturday) Starting at 8:00 a.m.
◆     Location: Provincial Platform (at the center of Battambang City, known as Football Field)
◆     Organized by the Royal Government of Cambodia, Sponsored by JSAC

ENDS

Note for Editors:
Japan Assitance Team for Small Arms Management in Cambodia (JSAC)

JSAC was organized by Japan International Cooperation System (JICS) for the implementation of “Peace Building and Comprehensive Small Arms Management Program in Cambodia” which is the first Grant Aid for conflict prevention and peace building from the Japan Government.
JSAC has started its weapons collection through educational workshops and in the north west part of Cambodia, namely Otdar Mean Chey Province, Banteay Mean Chey Province, and Siem Reap Province. The number of confiscated small arms has reached 11,662 in total. Since October 2006, JSAC has been implementing weapons collection and peace building in the middle west part of Cambodia, namely Battambang Province and Kompong Thom Province.
For more information on JSAC’s activities, please refer to our website: http://www.bigpond.com.kh/users/adm.jsac/