Festivals to test security units
A string of festivals taking place in Vientiane in the coming months will act as security rehearsals for police preparing for the 25th SEA Games in December, according to Vientiane Police Headquarters on Friday.
Ork Phan Sa (Buddhist Lent) and the associated boat races, the That Luang Festival and the Lao National Day celebrations are important annual occasions when the police work in cooperation with the military to maintain security.
Police headquarters Chief Colonel Bounthieng Chanthamounkhoun told Vientiane Times that many aspects of security work designed for the SEA Games will be tested during the upcoming events in the capital.
“Various security plans for the games will be used during the festivals and thousands of officials will work throughout these events to secure festival goers and important places and prevent road accidents,” he said.
The headquarters reported that preparations for the games began last year with the Ministry of Public Security working together with the Vientiane Administration Office to create a master security plan. This includes verifying local and foreign residents of Vientiane , entrance and exit points, examining security risks and road accident black spots.
“Officials went to each home, guesthouse and rental property in every area of Vientiane to check on residents, because we must know the whereabouts of people from other provinces and countries,” Colonel Bounthieng said.
The headquarters also sent officials to work with security forces on investigating targets to reduce crime such as theft, drug dealing, violence and other social problems ahead of the games.
Colonel Bounthieng said his office had received some complaints during the course of their investigations.
In answer to such comments he said he found it hard to believe that people lacked faith in the work of the police in their mission to protect the public.
“We have been striving to fight crime in Vientiane since the Ministry of Public Security ordered us to carry out these operations,” he said.
“I can't say that these problems have been eradicated simply because we have arrested hundreds of criminals after we put this plan into practice. Most of them were our main targets but some are still creating problems for society.”
The police are continuing with their investigations of the remaining targets, hoping to more make arrests ahead of the games.
“Thousands of officials have been practising their duties outside Vientiane to prepare for the games. Next month we'll roll out the plan we will use for the games at the festivals. I think people will trust us after they see the results of our work,” Colonel Bounthieng said.
By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
September 28, 2009
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