As part of The JICA Partnership Program, the Japan Center for Conflict Prevention (JCCP) started a Weapons Collection and Rural Development Projectin Cambodia with The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on August 1^st 2004. The project will be implemented in Rolea B’ier District inKampong Chhnang Province and Kratie District in Kratie Province, Cambodia. Prior to the start of the project, a meeting was held to work out thedetails of activities and measures concerning the Weapons Collection and Rural Development Project. The minutes of the meeting were signed on 22^ndJuly 2004 by H.E. Em Sam An, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Interior; Mr. Chikaraishi, Resident Representative of JICA Cambodia Office; and Mr.Tanaka, Representative for JCCP in Cambodia.

Signing the meeting minutes (July 22^nd 2004)
From left: Mr. Chikaraishi, Resident Representative of the JICA Cambodia Office, H.E. Em Sam An, Secretary of State, Cambodian Ministry of the Interior, and Mr. Tanaka, JCCP Representative in Cambodia

With the Paris Peace Agreements of 1991, peace finally came to Cambodia after a 30-year civil war. This peace was consolidated by the death of Pol Pot and the surrender of several high ranking leaders of the Khmer Rouge in 1998. However, the fragile nature of this peace is reflected in the large quantity of small arms and light weapons that are still held by civilians in the wake of the civil war. These weapons represent a serious threat to both the peace currently being enjoyed in Cambodia, and to the everyday security of citizens. The Weapons Collection and Rural Development Project will help people to gain an understanding of the necessity of collecting weapons while at the same time providing urgently needed development to further the pursuit of goals of conflict prevention and peace building in Cambodia.

Exchanging the signed documents
From left: Mr. Chikaraishi, H.E. Em Sam An, and Mr. Tanaka