Translation of Speech as Delivered:
The Cambodian Perspective
General Tea Banh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense, Cambodia
Mr Chairman, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, this is my profound privilege to be allowed to deliver a brief overview on Cambodia’s small but successful experience in reducing the threat and spread of Small Arms and Light Weapons, which is called SALW, in the Kingdom of Cambodia.
After over 30 years of war, genocide, internal conflict, and civil disorder, the Royal Government of Cambodia made a serious attempt to tackle the problems caused by the anarchy of small arms and light weapons. Thousands of weapons were illegally used by armed forces and ordinary civilians while laws and regulations regarding the possession of weapons and ammunition were insufficient. The Royal Government recognised that the continuous availability and proliferation of a large quantity of illegal weapons combined with inadequate security at the national arsenals were a major threat to the advancement of peace and stability in the country. It should be reiterated that it was the Cambodian government and the people of Cambodia who took this initiative to make an intensified effort for disarmament. It was subsequently reinforced by the effectiveness of the win-win policy of Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen.
The strong will of the nation and communities concerned were key to resolving this problem. Without this, no assistance from the outside world has been effective. However, due to our limited resources, experience and expertise, Cambodia definitely needs assistance and cooperation from the wider international communities including the United Nations, development assistance organizations, donor nations and civil communities.
With the assistance from an European Union sponsored program called 'EU Assistance on Curbing Small Arms and Light Weapons in Cambodia' (EU ASAC) started in 2000 and the Japanese Assistance team for small arms management in Cambodia (JSAC) started in 2003. Most of the programs in the next six years focus on strengthening legal frameworks, weapon collection, weapon destruction, stockpile management, the detection and clearance of illegal weapons caches, the development of police capacity, NGOs capacity development, and SALW awareness program. Laws and regulations prohibiting the possession and the use of illegal weapons across the entire society has since been enforced. The measures include the development of effective arms control, export and transfer of weapons, the adoption of legislation on arms control and registration, the establishment of SALW commission and the development of the implementation of a national SALW control strategy.
Field Surveys conducted at the outset of this effort revealed that the large amount of weapons possessed by the armed forces and police was most likely far beyond what was needed for legitimate defence and public order needs. In other words, the weapons were stored in a deplorable, unsafe and insecure condition. In order to collect the storese of illegal and surplus weapons, a number of initiatives and projects were already underway in Cambodia long before the arrival of the EU ASAC and the JSAC. For example, since 1998 weapon destruction ceremonies for collected weapons have been held on several occasions by the Cambodian government to raise public awareness about the importance of the collection and destruction of such illegal and surplus weapons.
From 1999 to 2006 in an effort to significantly reduce arms violence in the country, 192,000 surplus weapons were destroyed under the banner of ‘Flame of Peace’, 142, 871 of which were destroyed under the EU ASAC. Nine illegal weapon caches were identified consisting of 624 weapons and 1,075 ammunitions.
Beside the collection and destruction of illegal and surplus weapons, Cambodia has also been strongly committed to weapon stockpile management and security. With EU ASAC assistance forty-five weapon storage depots were constructed and eight weapon storage facilities were renovated across the country. These facilities were developed for storage of 158,760 weapons including short-term weapon storage racks at a wide number of locations as well. Realising the risks beyond SALW, the Royal Government had extended cooperation with the EU ASAC to develop safe and secure arsenals and management system and to destroy the surplus or unsafe ammunition.
What was the great importance in such effort was the establishment of reliable police and security system that will assure ordinary citizens that they would not have to keep arms for protection for their life and properties. For this purpose, training to improving the professionalism of the Cambodian police as well as equipping them with sufficient transportation and communication equipments became a crucial element of the program. The community-based policing training package was delivered to approximately 925 police officers. There was also a delivery of 73 motorcycles, 331 bicycles, and 383 radios to support the police operations.
With respect to the illicit trafficking of small arms across the border with neighbouring countries, Cambodia has taken effective measures to eradicate such activities. The strengthening of border control and customs authority has been implemented. Also, the sub-regional network information sharing and cooperation among police, customs and other border control agencies with neighbouring countries have been developed.
Cambodia has a comprehensive approach and compasses not only disarmament but also social and economic development. In return for the weapons handed in, communities have received development assistance with regard to the building of roads and schools, as well as vocational training. This has proven to be a great incentive to many communities leading to a positive change in their ways of living. The "Weapons for development" programme was the concept initiated by the United Nations and other development assistance organizations in addressing problems in post conflict regions.
At this stage, Japan has been active in assisting with the implementation of these projects leading to the construction and repair of 10 schools, 275 wells, 1 health clinic, 4 bridges, and 27 kilometres of road.
The role of civil society in raising public awareness of the danger of illegal weapon possession is very important. The working group for weapon reduction and the coalition of local and international organizations have been active in Cambodia since 1998 to carry out grassroots surveys on the issue of small arms, organize campaigns, and support the efforts of the Royal Government. The EU ASAC and JSAC have been supporting activities of non-governmental organizations including more active participation by Japanese NGOs.
In summary, efforts made by the Royal Government of Cambodia and the security partners have not only improved the security and public order in the country, but also have contributed to the strengthening of the regional security as well. The collecting and curbing of SALW followed by destruction of illegal and surplus stockpile have been undertaken with adequate registration of storage system to make the country a safer and more secure place. This led to the increase of national development which benefited all Cambodians.
Based on my personal experiences, there are some recommendations with regard to common efforts to curb SALW to boost security and stability in our region. The threats of SALW are generally considered to be one of the most complex regional issues, especially with the potential linkage to international terrorism. All countries should enhance their efforts to collect, maintain, and share data on SALW. They should increase their supports for research on the impacts of SALW including an assessment of the key areas to support policies and strategies to address the problems. Efforts by states and regional and international organizations to curbing the uncontrolled proliferation of SALW should be based on the acknowledgement that security and development are inter-connected. Integrated responses by the countries require relevant the integration of national SALW, action plan, national reconciliation policy, win-win policy, poverty reduction strategy, and human security framework. Destruction of surplus weapons and unsafe weapon stockpiles should be a priority for relevant governments. In the event that the country lacks resources and technical experience, international assistance would be the most essential element to insure the successful outcome. In order to increase human security and also prevent international terrorism, Cambodia suggests that a regional initiative including regional technical cooperation in the field of safe storage of small arms, light weapons and ammunition.
This concludes my briefing. I thank you for your kind attention to this matter. Thank you.
