Police beef up security before Asean summit
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Myanmar police are beefing up security by raising the level from orange to red since November 6 before the Asean summit gets underway next week in Nay Pyi Taw, Police Col Zaw Khin Aung from Myanmar Police Force said yesterday.
“We (police) are tightening security measures by conducting patrols and checking on vehicles and visitors. Plainclothesmen are mingling with the people to carry out security checks everywhere,” said Zaw Khin Aung who is from Security Sub-Committee of the Asean Summit.
Police Col Win Bo, deputy head of Yangon region police force, said, “We have put in several security measures to prevent criminal activities and terrorist attacks.”
Myanmar Police Force is deploying twenty per cent of its forces in Nay Pyi Taw to cover security for Asean summit and other high-level meetings associated with the summit which will be held from November 9 to 13. Agents from Interpol are also stationed at key border points and airports to beef up security.
About 20 per cent of Myanmar Police Force are now engaged in ensuring security in Nay Pyi Taw. Related meetings will be also held in Yangon, Mandalay and Bagan.
Zaw Khin Aung also said that Myanmar is cooperating with the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) to ensure security for the regional leaders who will attend the summit.
From November 1, full security measures have been exercised throughout the nation. Surprise checks of vehicles took place at the eight townships in Nay Pyi Taw.
“We are now checking all entrances and exits in Nay Pyi Taw by using modern electronic devices,” said Zaw Khin Aung.
The army is now performing security checks on the border routes and Interpol is also checking the border routes in Loigel, Tachileik, Myawaddy, Kawthaung, Maungdaw and Tamu Townships.
“Interpol is conducting security checks at the domestic airports and main routes. Mainly, they are interrogating based on information about terrorists,” Zaw Khin Aung added.
The authorities have already designated Myanmar International Convention Centre-MICC1 and the State’s guest houses, the venues of the summit, as limited zones in Nay Pyi Taw.
“We urge all people to participate in the security measures against the terrorists. They [people] can do their part by informing the police if they notice any suspicious development,” said an official from the Security Sub-Committee.
