MAKAMBA March 30th (ABP) – The Permanent National Commission to Combat the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (CNAP) held a meeting in Makamba (south) on March 28, 2019 to raise awareness among administrative officials, representatives of religious denominations, civil society organizations and defense and security forces of the southern region (Bururi, Makamba, Rumonge and Rutana) to urge them to sensitize the civilian people to get rid of illegally held weapons, a check on the site by ABP has revealed.
On all occasions of that kind throughout the country, the CNAP urges all Burundians to denounce, to the competent persons in authority, the holders and caches of small arms and light weapons to prevent and reduce their harmful effects in the people.
CNAP’s 1st deputy Chairman Roger Ndikumana said that small firearms illegally held by civilians cause a lot of problems in society. They accentuate land conflicts and armed robbery. As such, the proliferation of those weapons undermines peace initiatives and affects economic and development activities, the reason why awareness is needed to prevent and reduce the harmful effects of those weapons.
The participants suggested that the CNAP should have representatives in the communes to facilitate the task of sensitization and that during its sensitization sessions they should reach women and youth as these are groups that are directly affected by the harmful effects of those weapons.