Rumiko Seya, Secretary General of the Japan Center for Conflict Prevention

Weapons are only "tools," solutions must involve the users and their motives

When I posed the previous question regarding a system to maintain security, some people responded that "weapons should be abolished." In areas of conflict, it's certainly true that there are a great number of weapons available during the period of violence and after it has ended. For this issue, I would like to look at controlling these arms.

Rumiko Seya

Born in Gunma Prefecture in 1977. Graduated from Chuo University and received an MA in Conflict Resolution from the University of Bradford in the UK. Specialist in post-conflict peacebuilding and reintegration of ex-combatants into society. In the past she held various positions in conflict areas, such as NGO staff (Rwanda), UN volunteer (Sierra Leone), Special Assistant to the Ambassador (Japanese Embassy, Afghanistan), and UN Peacekeeping Operations staff (Côte d'Ivoire). She became Secretary General of the JCCP in April 2007.

JCCP's website http://www.jccp.gr.jp/

There are various kinds of weapons, such as "heavy armaments" like tanks and missiles and "weapons of mass destruction" like nuclear weapons and chemical weapons. "Small arms" are weapons that can be carried easily by only one or two people, including pistols, rifles, machine guns, grenades, and land mines. These small arms are the weapons most widely used in areas of conflicts and they have produced the most casualties.

From crimes involving guns in the United States and Japan, it is clear that small arms have spread widely and globally. It is believed that there are now over 6 billion small arms out in the world with more than 90 countries engaged in producing these arms and 1200 businesses involved in arms dealing.

The reason for the vast spread of small arms is due to their "convenience."

First, small arms are inexpensive and ordinary people can obtain them for little money at black markets in developing countries. Second, these weapons are light and can be easily carried, even by children, into prohibited areas. Third, because small arms are rather simple devices, maintaining such weapons isn't all that complicated for the average person. And finally, small arms are very sturdy and can be used even if they become old and rusty.

Youth belonging to anti-government forces show off their arms in Sierra Leone. (Photo by Rumiko Seya in 2001)

However, the "convenience" for users of small arms means grave "danger" for the victims of these weapons. In fact, many people lose their lives each day as a result of small arms.

So, if these arms were all abolished, would the problems of these areas suffering conflict be resolved and would this result in peace?

A similar question might be: "If all guns and knives in Japan were eliminated, would there no longer be brutal crimes?" In fact, weapons are only a "tool" used to commit a crime. If the motivation of the criminal isn't properly addressed, they would try to commit the crime in some other way so the act would still not be prevented.

The same thing can be said about areas of conflict. Measures are needed to prevent former soldiers and combatants, who once wielded the weapons, from fighting again or resorting to violence.

On the other hand, there are large differences between Japanese wrongdoers and combatants in areas of conflict. In these areas, (1) violence and murder, using such weapons, are perpetrated in groups; (2) in many cases, there are leaders who order the groups to fight; (3) for combatants, arms are a vital part of their lives because fighting with weapons is their means of livelihood; and (4) as laws and regulations have not functioned effectively, the combatants are unaware that fighting with weapons is a violation of social norms.

In fact, some of these combatants were kidnapped or forced to take part in the fighting. In cases where conflicts have raged for many years, this means they were deprived of the chance to go to school and they know of no other way to earn money except by fighting. In other words, soldiers and other combatants may be both perpetrators and victims. Many are fighting under orders and threats from their leaders.

In light of these conditions, there are many challenges involved in collecting arms and restoring law and order after conflict has ended. I encourage you to think about today's question from the complicated position of soldiers and combatants in areas of conflict.