Fiji has witnessed incidents where firearms have been used in criminal activities such as bank robberies and the civil unrest in the year 2000.
Opening the Arms Trade Treaty workshop in Suva today, Permanent Secretary for Defence and National Security, Osea Cawaru says such incidents seriously impair poverty reduction and social economic development.
Cawaru says some arms entering our shoes have come through illegally with the latest case in Vuda this year.
”The conventional arms covered by the ATT includes the following categories. Battle tanks, armed combat vehicles, large caliber artillery systems, combat aircrafts, attack helicopters, warships. , missile and missile launchers and small arms and light weapons. The transfer of these arms includes export, import, transit, transshipment and brokering”
Cawaru adds that with ATT being a facilitator for the two-day workshop, there will be more awareness on the issue with our local enforcement agencies.
Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) workshop at Southern Cross Hotel in Suva. More on @FBC_News at 7pm. pic.twitter.com/TjJlj0LxLp
— Kelly Vacala (@KellyFBCNews) November 7, 2018
The ATT is a multilateral treaty that regulates on conventional weapons with the overall intention to contribute to intentional and regional peace, reducing human suffering and promoting cooperation, transparency and responsible actions.
