Interview with Chin State Police Major on election duty

Interview with Chin State Police Major on election duty
by -
Salai Kyaw Moe Tun

Salai Kyaw Moe Tun — “There are military battalions, but the special police and the People's Police Force have to take charge of security for all the polling stations in Matupi. All polling stations are the duties of the special police,” said Matupi Township’s Police Major U Htay Win in an interview.

Q: Please introduce your job position and duties.

A: I am Police Major Htay Win. I have been serving in Matupi since 2013.

Q: How many cases have you handled since you started working here?

A: We don’t have many cases here. There are only over 30 cases since the start of the year until now. There isn’t much crime.

Q: Where did you serve in the 2010 Election?

A: I was in the police unit back in 2010. I was serving at the CID (Crime Investigation Department).

Q: How have you prepared for the holding of free and fair elections in 2015?

A: We have to consider the security issues and telecommunications issues such as the telecommunication networks and the situation for those traveling from one place to another during the election period. We have to put these on charts, including the areas for communication and those that can be traveled by motorcycle and car. Also, it’s difficult to make phone calls here. So, we have to put the equipment in areas that can’t be contacted by phone. These are the things we have been carrying out during the training.

Q: How did you select the special police and give them training?

A: In order to hold a free and fair election in 2015, it’s not enough with only the manpower of the police force. There are 119 polling stations in our township. So, 119 special police have been appointed for these polling stations. We have worked with the township administration groups and ward and village administration groups from here in order to select local people that can guard their own polling stations. We have to scrutinize them in line with 27, 28, 29, and 30 of the Myanmar Police Force Act and submit to the Myanmar Police Force.

Q: How will you start using the special police officers and when will you start appointing them?

A: We have appointed the special police officers since the 15th. They will have to serve for one month. They will also be given two-week training from the 20th to the 31st.

Q: Have they become police officers after they attended the police training course?

A: Yes, it’s correct. Since attending the special police training course, they have to abide by the rules and regulations of the Police Force even though they are only special police officers.

Q: Will they be given any special duty?

A: We have zone areas. We have organized a team called the JOC (Joint Operation Center). Thirteen JOC have been established based on respective township area. The People's Police Force have been assigned in this Joint Operation Center and special police have been assigned to the polling stations due lack of manpower. We will cooperate with the JOCs to supervise the polling stations.

Q: There are three military battalions in Matupi so how will you take security duties for the polling stations from there. Will the military take the duties?

A: The special police and the People’s Police Force have to take charge of security for all polling stations in Matupi. There are military battalions, but all polling stations are the responblity of the special police. We have been helping in solving the difficulties of polling station officers and deputy officers and difficulties relating to the commission in order to have transparency and prevent security failures in holding the election on November 8, 2015.

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