Small Arms Control in Post-Conflict Cambodia: The Effectiveness of Policy Interventions?

Cambodia has been on its peace building effort for the sake of peace and prosperity right after emerging from the brutal violent conflict in 1991 when Paris Peace Accord was signed to end the conflict in the country. However, many challenges have been impairing this effort; not to mention the others, the proliferation of small arms such as assault rifles, grenades and pistols, has been threatening the security of the people. These small arms have been proliferating in post-conflict Cambodia as a consequence of conflict erupted in the late 1960s when the Vietnam War spilled over Cambodia. They have been instigating crime, violence and social disorder, which are the signal of future destabilization. Realizing these consequences, the government of Cambodia together with civil society, donor countries, and other stakeholders undertook a series of activities to control small arms proliferation, particularly the passing and putting into practice of the Law on the Management of Weapons, Explosives and Ammunition in 2005. Even though many efforts have been carried out, there seems no positive impact on the society as crimes, political violence, and other human rights violations still exist.