Only then will the State authority be generally accepted. But this can only work if law enforcers are de-politicized, well paid, and tightly supervised. Not to disarm now may mean that in the future weapons will progressively fall more into the wrong hands until it becomes impossible for the State to control anything. Cambodia has a long way still to go before peaceful conflict resolution permeates manners and customs. Everything must first be done to mitigate the effects of this self-justice.
Weapons have the most devastating effects.
A quarrel at a wedding party between drunkards may end up with a dozen killed, instead of, say, one person stabbed. The easy access to weapons makes the difference here between a quarrel and a murder. The State has the monopoly of the legitimate use of force. Yet one may question such a requirement here. Naturally, officers not directly related to law and order enforcement should be dramatically reduced or disarmed, such as bodyguards or militiamen.