Cambodia
Following decades of armed conflict until the late 1990s, the political situation in Cambodia has stabilised. Nevertheless, human rights violations and gun violence persist in the country.[1] Due to this situation, Cambodia has high levels of weapons and ammunition trafficking.[2] Landmines planted during armed conflicts throughout the 1980s and 1990s still pose a significant risk in the country (mainly in north-western areas).[3]
The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD) and Nonviolence International are on the ground to support the through-life management of ammunition by working with the Cambodian Ministry of Defence. Efforts have included national and regional training sessions to develop plans to prevent arms and ammunition diversion and to reduce illegal arms flows, sharing best practices on ammunition management, and training sessions for Cambodian security forces on improving Physical Security and Stockpile Management (PSSM) practices.[4]
[1] “World Report 2022: Cambodia Events of 2021.” Human Rights Watch. Accessed July 19, 2022. https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2022/country-chapters/cambodia.
[2] “Guns in Cambodia.” Gun Law and Policy: Firearms and armed violence, country by country. Accessed July 19, 2022. https://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/region/cambodia.
[3] “Cambodia.” The HALO Trust. Accessed July 19, 2022. https://www.halotrust.org/where-we-work/south-asia/cambodia/.
[4] See A-MAP Database.
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Further information
Accidental explosions
Since the beginning of data collection in 1979 by the Small Arms Survey, four accidental explosions were reported in Cambodia (Table 1).
Table. 1 Accidental explosions in Cambodia (1979-2021)
Year | Location | Owner/manager | Deaths | Injuries |
2009 | Ta Khmau | State (military) | 0 | 2 |
2005 | Andong Chen | State (military) | 6 | 20 |
2000 | N/A | State (military) | N/A | N/A |
1999 | Ream | State (military) | 0 | 0 |
Source: Small Arms Survey. n.d. Unplanned Explosions at Munitions Sites (UEMS). Database.
Cases of diversion
Some cases of diversion have been reported since 2000 in Cambodia (Table 2).
Table 2: Cases of diversion of arms, ammunition, and explosives in Cambodia since 2000
Year | Location | Description |
2022 | Siem Reap | Two AK-47 rifles and 12 bullets were stolen from a police station in Angkor Quan. |
2021 | Phnom Penh | A firearm was stolen from a police officer along with 15 bullets. |
2020 | Battambang | Two AK guns and 36 bullets were stolen from the Aurum Doul police station. |
2019 | Derm Sre | A gun was stolen from a police officer along with a magazine filled with 7 bullets. |
Source: “Construction Worker Steals Gun and Ammo From Cop.” Cambodia Expats Online, July 30, 2019. https://cambodiaexpatsonline.com/newsworthy/construction-worker-steals-gun-and-ammo-from-cop-t30934.html. “Two Arrests after Careless Police Officer Loses Gun.” Cambodia News English, September 28, 2021. https://cne.wtf/2021/09/28/two-arrests-after-careless-police-officer-loses-gun/. “Two AK Guns Retrieved, Stolen from Police Station in Battambang.” Cambodia Expats Online, March 27, 2020. https://cambodiaexpatsonline.com/newsworthy/two-guns-retrieved-stolen-from-police-station-battambang-t37050.html. “Audacious in the Extreme! Cambodian Man Sneaks into Police Station and Steals Two AKs.” INF News, July 20, 2022. https://inf.news/en/world/96ae154c06b912badf76193cf20cd577.html.
Disposal
Destruction, use, or export of ammunition as an indicator of a state’s ability to identify and decrease aging, unsafe, or surplus ammunition.
Insufficient information on the disposal of ammunition in Cambodia.
Needs
Further requirements for an effective through-life management of ammunition in the country.
To further enhance safe and secure ammunition management, the following needs have been identified for Cambodia:
- Development or refinement of standards and procedures on stockpile management
- Capacity development for the destruction of surplus stockpiles
Source: PoA Report 2018, Cambodia. Please note that PoA reports focus on SALW and not specifically on ammunition. https://unoda-poa.s3.amazonaws.com/reports/KHM-English-63-SUBMITTED.pdf.
