JSAC Conducted Weapons Destruction Ceremony in Battambang

The first Weapons Destruction Ceremony co-organized by the Royal Government of Cambodia and Japan Assistance Team for Small Arms Management in Cambodia (JSAC) in Phase 2 took place on Saturday, March 4, 2006. The ceremony was held in Battambang District, Battambang Province and 1,853 small arms (1,367 of them were surrendered by local citizens) were incinerated and completely destroyed under the slogan “Flame of Peace.”

H.E. Sar Kheng, Deputy Prime Minister of Kingdom of Cambodia, H.E. Takahashi, Ambassador of Japan presided the ceremony and the officials of the Ministry of Interior, Battambang Province, Military, Police as well as local NGOs, local media, and many citizens attended. In this ceremony, JSAC Project Manager stated “I want to remind you today that this is not the goal. This is just a start point of our long endeavour toward peace” and emphasized that all weapons remaining in the province should be submitted to competent authority. Moreover, Ambassador Takahashi mentioned “It is expected that local citizens will be aware of peace and social order, then will keep surrendering many weapons”, and he anticipated peace and stability in Cambodia will be promoted.

JSAC will tackle further weapons collection through educational activities and other projects which will contribute to the peace builcing in Cambodia.

Note for Editors:
Japan Assistance Team for Small Arms Management in Cambodia (JSAC)Japan Assistance Team for Small Arms Management in Cambodia is a project team to implement “Peace Building and Comprehensive Small Arms Management Program in Cambodia”, which was funded by Japan cooperation System (JICS). JSAC has been comprehensively supporting weapons reduction and peace building in Cambodia, though 5 project (1. Weapons Reduction and Development for Peace Project, 2. Safe Storage and Registration Project, 3. Weapons Destruction Project, 4.Public Awareness Project, 5. National Commission Support Project).

For more information on JSAC’s activities, please refer to its website:http://www.bigpond.com.kh/users/adm.jsac/