Transcript Small Arms Violence and Trafficking in Bangladesh

Small Arms Violence and
Trafficking in Bangladesh :
Security Implications
Neila Husain
Senior Research Fellow
Bangladesh Institute of International &
Strategic Studies (BIISS)
20 June 2009
Purpose of this Presentation
Share basic facts about small arms;
 Give an overview of the impact of small
arms on national and human security;
 To discuss the options for controlling the
proliferation of small arms nationally,
regionally and globally.
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What are Small Arms?
All weapons that can be fired,
 maintained and transported by one
person.
 Revolvers, pistols, rifles submachine guns, assault rifles, light
machine guns are some of the
widely used small arms in
Bangladesh
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Key Facts about Small Arms
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There are over 600 million small arms in the world, or one
for every ten people.
Nearly 60 per cent of small arms are in civilian hands.
Majority of illegal small arms start out as legally traded
weapons
More than 500,000 people on average are killed with small
arms every year: one person every minute.
Small arms are the cause of 60-90% of direct conflict
deaths.
In 11% of crime committed in Bangladesh, small arms are
use
Why are SALW the “Weapons of
Choice”?
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Cheaper option
Light weight-portable
Easily available
Easy to operate
Accurate target
Problems of Small Arms in
Bangladesh
Easy availability and use of illicit small
arms and improvised explosive devises
(IED) have increased over the years.
 Weapons of choice for criminals,
extremists, terrorists, political activists
 Innocent people, esp. women and children
are easy targets
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Cause for the Increase in Small
Arms Use
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Economic factors
- Small arms ...... big business!
Social factors
- Unemployment
- Degradation of moral/social value system
Political greed
– - Abuse of power
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Ideological extremism
- Religious militancy
Source of (Illicit) SALW
Trafficking Routes of SALW
through Bangladesh
Map South and South East Asia: The ‘small arms road’
Use and Users of Small Arms
 Organized Crime
- Extortion
- Politically backed criminal groups
- Campus Violence
- Underworld Crime
- Terrorist Groups
- Piracy
 Unorganized Crime
- theft
- land violence
- drug addicted youth
- gender violence
- homicide
Impact on State and National
Security
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Challenge to Democracy and Governance
- curtails democratic practices
- deteriorating law and order
Challenge to Development
- armed violence, extortion, rent seeking are obstacle to
investment, entrepreneurship, creating “unfriendly
business environment.
Challenge to National Exchequer
- diverts resources from basic public health services
- equipping law enforcing agencies
Challenge to National Security
- increase in militancy and terrorist attacks linked with
within Bangladesh.
Increased Threat to Human
Security
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Increased risk of physical attack
Incidences of social violence had increased
Crime among drug addicts in going unnoticed
Threat to women’s right and security
Risk to child security
Education system has suffered over the past few
decades
Armed Violence affects livelihood and slows
down productivity.
Government Approaches in
Controlling Small Arms
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Legislation: Arms Act of 1878
Administrative measures
- Arms recovery programmes
- Introduction of RAB in 2004
Multilateral/Regional measures
- United Nations program of Action (UNPOA)
- Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)
- SAARC Convention on Counter Terrorism
Small Arms Control
pre 1/11
Trafficking/smuggling
Use of IEDs
Social Violence
Crime rate
Terrorist Attacks
Political Violence
Campus Violence
Attack on innocent people
Piracy
post 1/11
What are the Challenges for
Bangladesh?
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Lack of Data
Existing laws
Border security & Customs Checking
- Lack of Manpower,
- Logistics
- lack of technology
Political-Criminal Nexus
Corruption
Stockpiling of arms and ammunition
Resource constraint
Recommendations for the
Government
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A Core Group of relevant ministries and govt. organizations dealing with
Small Arms
Review Arms Act and introduce new laws
Address “demand side” and “supply side”
Capacity Building of law enforcing agencies
Enhance Border Security
De-link transnational networks
Create Employment for the youth
Introduce more drug rehabilitation centres
Reinstating ex-criminals in society
Increase Research on the impact of small arms
Access to information about firearms
Employ linked data system
Engage civil society, NGOs
What can the Civil Society Do?
Raise community awareness around the
problem
 Restrain from giving children toys guns
 Restore family values
 Campaign against violence laden movies,
video games.
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A Comprehensive Approach To
Control Small Arms Proliferation
Human Security Approach
Traditional Security Approach
Multilateral/Regional Approach
Conclusion
A well-coordinated effort from government,
non-government and international actors are
urgently needed to curb the demand and supply
of small arms in order to create a health
nation:politically, socio-economically, and
internationally
Thank you