JSAC to hand over 2nd monument made of de-commissioned weapons to Cambodia

October 05, 2007

The Japanese Assistance Team for Small Arms Management in Cambodia (JSAC) will hand over the second Peace Monument made of de-commissioned weapons to the government of Cambodia's Battambang province on Oct. 9, said a press release issued on Thursday.

The monument, 6.5 meters in height and named "Naga for Peace and Development", was created by four Cambodian artists and will be permanently installed in a public park in Battambang provincial city, said the release from JSAC.

The weapons used to create the monument were surrendered by the residents of the province, it added.

Last week, JSAC handed over the first Peace Monument made of de- commissioned weapons to the Kampong Thom government.

JSAC was established by the Japan International Cooperation System (JICS) in attempt to implement the Peace Building and Comprehensive Small Arms Management Program in Cambodia. Since beginning its operations in Cambodia, JSAC has amassed 28,602 weapons.

Due to years of war at the end of last century, weapons have been widely circulated among the Cambodian civilians. Consistent efforts have been made by the government in conjunction with international bodies to collect and destroy these weapons.

Source: Xinhua

JSAC hands over Peace Monument to local gov't of Cambodia

STOUNG DISTRICT, KAMPONG THOM, Cambodia, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Japanese Assistance Team for Small Arms Management in Cambodia (JSAC) handed over a Peace Monument made of de-commissioned weapons to the Kampong Thom government here on Thursday.

Som Sophat, Deputy Governor of Kampong Thom province, signed the certificate of handover with Takeuchi Kazuki, JSAC program manager, at the provincial government hall.

The monument, 3.5 meters in height and named "World of Peace," was created by six Cambodian artists and has permanently installed in the Children's Park in Kampong Thom, said a press release from JSAC.

The weapons used to create the monument were surrendered by the residents of the province, it added.

Sophon Samkhan, representative of the six artists, made a speech at the handover ceremony.

The handover of the monument was preceded by a "Peace Declaration", which was announced by the governor of Stoung district, to mark the completion of JSAC support for weapon collection activities in Kompong Thom province.

JSAC was established by the Japan International Cooperation System (JICS) in attempt to implement the Peace Building and Comprehensive Small Arms Management Program in Cambodia. Since its operations in Cambodia, JSAC has amassed 28,602 weapons.

Due to years of war at the end of last century, weapons have been widely circulated among the Cambodian civilians. Consistent efforts have been made by the government in conjunction with international bodies to collect and destroy these weapons.