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JSAC-PR-01
16 June 2003
PRESS RELEASE

STARTING OPERATION OF JAPAN ASSISTANCE TEAMFOR SMALL ARMS MANAGEMENT IN CAMBODIA (JSAC)

A number of small arms still remain in civilian’s hands even decades after the civil war, and such small arms have been often used for criminal purposes.  Such circumstances prevent Cambodia from building peace and stabilizing the society.  The Government of Cambodia regards the problems of small arms as one of the first prioritized issues to be solved in the country, while obtaining the support from international society

In this situation, the Royal Government of Cambodia has developed “Peace Building and Comprehensive Small Arms Management Program” and has received a grant aid of four hundred and fifty million Yen from the Government of Japan to execute the Program. On April 20, 2003, Japan Assistant Team for Small Arms Management in Cambodia (JSAC) was established to assist the Cambodian Government implement the Program.

JSAC is the first Japanese team to assist in small arms management and its innovated program is in the hope of the related field.  JSAC will contribute to peace building in Cambodia by implementing four interlinked projects to reduce weapons as follows;

1.       Weapon Reduction and Development for Peace (WDP) Project.

We will encourage voluntary surrender of civilian’s weapons, which are illegally possessed in villager’s hands.  In return to surrender of weapons, various development projects will be provided to communities as an incentive.  Such projects include schools, roads, water wells.  We are planning to conduct WDP project in Oddar Meanchey, Siem Reap, and Banteay Meanchey provinces.

2.       Weapons Destruction Project.

This project is to destroy collected weapons from WDP project, and weapons collected by the Government of Cambodia at the ceremony named “Flame of Peace.”  The purpose of the ceremony is not only to make weapons physically unable to use, but also to give people a positive and symbolic message that we are moving toward peace without weapons. 

3.       Safe Storage and Registration Project

In order to prevent from stealing weapons or illicit trade of weapons, JSAC supports the establishment of effective stockpiling and registration system of weapons.

4.       Public Awareness Project

With cooperation of NGOs, JSAC raises public awareness about small arms issue through a variety of workshops, seminars, and training for both local civilians and government officials. Local civilians can also learn how to organize their own community, and the project makes civilians realize a sense of participation from this project.


 
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