The 20-month pilot weapons reduction program covering five communes in Bakan district,

Pursat, concluded on December 3. People from five communes handed in for destruction

around 2,500 illegal weapons and 4,200 explosives to the authorities. In return they

benefited from construction projects for schools, bridges and roads. The program,

which brought together the weapons reductions programs of Japan and EU-ASAC, also

trained and equipped local police.