Meiktila, Letpadaung highlight need for police reform, says EU

Meiktila, Letpadaung highlight need for police reform, says EU

By Aye Nyein Win   |   Sunday, 01 December 2013

A 10 million euro (US$13.5 million) European Union project to improve standards in the Myanmar Police Force will focus on guiding legal reform, ensuring police have the training to manage conflict situations, and building trust with the community, an EU official says.

EU ambassador to Myanmar Roland Kobia speaks to media with General Thura Bo Ni of the Myanmar Police Force on November 29. Photo: AFP

The 18-month project, which got underway in November, will see a community policing pilot project implemented in Mingalar Taung Nyunt township, while officers will receive training in crowd management and human rights issues, EU ambassador to Myanmar Roland Kobia said.

"Recent incidents in Letpadaung Taung and Meiktila underline the need for the police to change the way they operate," Mr Kobia said at a press conference on November 29.

"With this project the EU wants to contribute to improve the human rights performance of the Myanmar Police Force and initiate the development of a community-based police service that is trustworthy and at the service of the people of Myanmar," he said.

Under the project, support will be provided for introducing a police vision and creating a legal framework based in international standards, with full respect for fundamental human rights. It will also encourage increased police accountability to parliament, civil society and the media.

General Thura Bo Ni from the police force said the program "to upgrade the Myanmar Police Force to international standards" was agreed upon during President U Thein Sein's visit to Europe earlier this year.

"After U Thein Sein became president, the whole country's security became the responsibility of the police force," Gen Thura Bo Ni said.

"But we can't reform within a short time. It is not easy. In the past month, with the help of the EU, we have received training in systematic crowd management. This will directly benefit our work during the upcoming Southeast Asian Games."

He said the EU program would only touch on the police force's training needs, with just 4 percent of its approximately 100,000 officers expected to receive training. To date about 400 officers have received training.

However, Gen Thura Bo Ni described winning the trust of the public as the force's greatest challenge.

"Most Myanmar people do not believe in the police force. How can we get the people's trust? The answer is we should be a police force that all people feel they can cooperate with," he said.

"A system in which the police and public cooperate and work together has been very successful in other countries … We aim to become a police force that the people believe in."

Under the community policing pilot project, the EU will assist the police force and local authorities to develop multi-partnership action plans aimed at meaningful cooperation between police, the public and civil society organisations in Mingalar Taung Nyunt.

http://www.information.myanmaronlinecentre.com/meiktila-letpadaung-highlight-need-for-police-reform-says-eu/