19 December
State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi held a meeting with the Chief of Myanmar Police Force and senior police officers at the headquarters of the Ministry of Home Affairs in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning.
At the Meeting, the MPF Chief gave a briefing about the background history, organizational structures, missions, duties and future plans of the MPF.
Next State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi gave a guidance speech. She said nowadays, it was important to note that there were no differences in security affairs between internal and external threats to the country.
The informal title ‘police’ implies ‘control’ or ‘guard’, and it was assumed that the name was changed to Myanmar Police to protect Myanmar people from internal and external dangers.
She added that the MPF played a crucial role in protecting people, and that they should be proud of their duties.
The State Counsellor added that it cannot be differentiated between rule of law and peace and stability. Without rule of law, security would not improve in the country. Rule of law could guarantee security, peace and stability. Laws were enacted to prevent emotional acts and to follow rules and regulations. Courts are also responsible for handling legal affairs based on human nature.
Justice must go together with sympathy. Peace will not prevail without loving-kindness. In developed and stable countries in the world, their police forces have the trust of their people who have believed no dangers would fall on them if they get protection of the police.
The mindset of police forces can shape public attitudes and that they should lead in promoting public mentality. People will appreciate valiant efforts of police members for their security. A fair balance of power must be maintained in duties to meet international policing standards. Excess force might cause problems, and it is breaching the human rights of individuals.
The State Counsellor also reminded that the threats of narcotic drugs can undermine moral ethics of human beings as it is related to criminal cases.
Referring to an eastern saying, she remarked that the worst kind of government was one which the people hated, a bad government was one which the people feared, a good government was one which the people praised, and the best kind of government was one which was invisible, which means serving people from the behind without creating any problems for the people.
International standard of police to citizen ratio is 1 to 450. However, each Myanmar police is serving for 1,000 people, showing insufficient manpower for security purposes and this required that more efforts had to be exerted. More police personnel have been dispatched to Rakhine State for security reasons. MPF needs to promote their image through responsible security measures.
The first line of defence for external threats is diplomacy which causes no harm to any party, the second line is development, and the last line is military action; once this stage is reached, there can be harm and losses to both sides.
While the second line of development is not strong enough for the country yet, police forces need to make more strenuous efforts. It is a chance for police to serve the country. Police need to work for people as an opportunity for merit-making. The nature of the police force is not the same as the military. The former is more responsible for security, peace and stability of people in their daily life.
The State Counsellor also advised the MPF to uplift their willingness, endeavours, attitude and knowledge to overcome their difficulties and challenges.
She said it was important to use state-of-the-art modern technology, and that the government is allocating possible budgets to the police force although it has not met the actual needs due to limited budget allocations.
Security forces are more influential figures than any other government departments in the country. However, police must try to secure people’s respect instead of their fears, till the people believe that the police are taking responsibilities of security and stability for the public.
She also said the government needs to know the challenges of police personnel and give cash and kind assistance to the family members of police personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty in Rakhine State.
Psycho tests in recruiting police must include tests to identify the attitude of misuse in power. They must have strong determination to overcome challenges, persistence of the good or the bad in any circumstance of power or positions, and that they must work to leave a good tradition for the future.
The State Counsellor also stressed that it was important to have discussions between the senior officials and their subordinates for the requirements in MPF, and urged them to be loyal to the government.
Union Minister for Home Affairs Lt-Gen Kyaw Swe presented the functions of MPF and its coordination with the relevant ministries.
Next, the State Counsellor gave comments and suggestions based on the discussions to ensure coordination. She then had lunch together with senior police officers of MPF.
The meeting was attended by Union Minister for Home Affairs Lt-Gen Kyaw Swe, Union Minister for Office of the Union Government U Min Thu, Deputy Minister for Home Affairs Maj-Gen Aung Thu, Chief of MPF Police Lt-Gen Aung Win Oo, Deputy Chiefs of MPF Police Maj-Gen Myo Swe Win, Police Maj-Gen Aung Naing Thu and senior police officers from different branches under the MPF.—MNA (Translated by Aung Khin)
