Keep peace so the people can enjoy the Lunar New Year.

(Baonghean) - Implementing Directive No. 01/2014/CT-UBND dated January 15, 2014, of the Vinh City People's Committee on organizing well the activities celebrating the Party, celebrating the Spring Festival and welcoming the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Horse, the police force and the authorities of communes and wards in the city are making efforts to implement many measures to ensure security and order, maintaining peace so that people can enjoy the Tet holiday.

These days, in Nghi Phu commune, the spirit of spring has spread to every street and alley. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the year-end, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Tung, Deputy Head of the Commune Police, briefly outlined the measures they have been implementing to ensure security and order in the area. From January 2nd, 2014 to the present, the commune police, in coordination with the local police team, regularly patrol the hamlets twice a day, at 6 AM and 6 PM, conducting public awareness campaigns via loudspeakers. Together with relevant committees and neighborhood leaders, they have signed commitments with over 3,500 households and schools to strictly adhere to the policy of not storing, burning firecrackers, or releasing sky lanterns. "No alcohol causing public disorder, no racing causing traffic safety hazards... We have busted three cases of firework production in the area. The perpetrators were all minors, so we handed them over to the schools for disciplinary action in front of the entire school and reminded their families to supervise them. On January 10, 2014, we caught Luong Thu Huyen (born in 1983), residing in Hamlet 3, Nghi Kim Commune (Vinh City), in possession of 5.1 kg of fireworks manufactured in China. The confiscated items were seized and transferred to the City Police for destruction, and Huyen was fined 5 million VND," Mr. Tung said.

The Vinh City Traffic Police team issued a traffic violation report.

Despite the importance placed on maintaining security and order, firecrackers were still heard on New Year's Eve in Nghi Phu commune in previous years. This year, the preliminary plan outlined by the authorities is to strengthen the management of the neighborhood with the involvement not only of the police but also of neighborhood officials, civil defense, and self-defense militia. The Chairman of Nghi Phu commune, Mr. Tran Ngoc Chi, stated: "Since the end of December 2013, the commune Party Committee has issued a resolution on ensuring security and order before, during, and after Tet (Lunar New Year). This resolution assigned the commune police the task of further strengthening security and order. Through 24 crime reporting boxes placed in 24 neighborhoods, the commune police have identified suspicious individuals and promptly disseminated information and warnings. Furthermore, the commune leadership has worked with the parish and sub-parish pastoral councils to coordinate and effectively carry out propaganda work." During religious services, the parish priest, through his sermons, encouraged parishioners to avoid social vices, ensure traffic safety, and maintain security and order in the area and the city.

As a central area, home to Ho Chi Minh Square and many provincial agencies, the Truong Thi Police force has focused on ensuring security and order before, during, and after Tet (Lunar New Year) quite early. From the beginning of January 2014 to the present, they have handled over 20 cases of violations, including some quite serious ones. Recently, during a night patrol, they spotted a young man driving a vehicle without license plates with suspicious behavior. When stopped, the young man fled, leaving behind a homemade BB gun and 50 BB pellets. The confiscated items have been transferred to the City Police. During this period, the Truong Thi Ward Police regularly deploy a public patrol team from 6 AM to 7 PM throughout the area; from 7 PM to 6 AM, a rotating patrol team is deployed. During the Tet holiday, in coordination with the militia and civil defense forces, patrols will be conducted 24/7... The task of these patrol teams is to monitor the security and order situation on all roads and alleys in order to prevent, promptly stop, and strictly handle any violations of the law...

In Quang Trung ward, the tradition of police officers celebrating New Year's Eve with the people has been preserved for many years. This practice strengthens the bond with the people while also helping the officers ensure good security and order. According to Lieutenant Colonel Thai Manh Hung, the ward's police chief, from January 1, 2014 to the present, the ward's police force has focused on crime suppression. They have arrested suspects in 5 drug cases, including 3 cases of buying and selling and 2 cases of possession; arrested and handed over to the city police Nguyen Quoc Phuong (born in 1994), residing in Hamlet 3, Ky Tan commune, Tan Ky district, who was wanted by the Binh Duong Provincial Police; and arrested 16 cases of gambling and illegal lottery trading... This year's New Year's Eve will feature bonfires and cultural exchanges between the people, youth union members, and police and civil defense forces at the ward's community centers. Lieutenant Colonel Thai Manh Hung said: "We have advised the Party Committee and the local government of the ward on plans to ensure good security and order in the area. Organizing bonfires at community cultural centers and residential groups for police and people to celebrate New Year's Eve together is also a way to carry out that work..."

When discussing maintaining order during Tet (Lunar New Year) in Vinh City, the Traffic Police Team cannot be overlooked. Since the beginning of 2014, the team has intensified patrols to ensure traffic safety in the city. During patrols from January 1st to the present, they have discovered 6 stolen motorcycles and returned 4 to their owners; apprehended one case involving the transportation of 3.5 kg of smuggled firecrackers; arrested Nguyen Gia Long (born in 1987), residing in Minh Son commune, Do Luong district, for stealing a motorcycle belonging to Mr. Le Van Tong, residing in Quang Trung ward; recorded 694 traffic violations, confiscated 8 cars, 241 motorcycles, and 51 electric bicycles; and issued fines to 981 cases totaling 276,015,000 VND.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Hoang Duy Ha, head of the city's traffic police team, the team has developed a specific plan to carry out its duties before, during, and after Tet (Lunar New Year). Specifically for New Year's Eve, based on the city's fireworks schedule, they will assign teams to checkpoints and direct traffic from afar. From Ben Thuy ward to Quan Banh ward, trucks and buses will not be allowed into the city; lanes will be rerouted and checkpoints will be set up at the intersections near Phuong Dong Hotel, the Provincial People's Committee building, and the Post Office building; and all types of vehicles will be prevented from entering the roads adjacent to Ho Chi Minh Square and the Ho Chi Minh Monument to allow people to watch the fireworks and celebrate New Year's Eve. At the same time, from 7 PM (on New Year's Eve), patrols will be organized on all inner-city roads to prevent traffic congestion; and to handle cases of insecurity, reckless driving, robbery, and fireworks use. The patrols will continue until approximately 2 AM on January 1st (Lunar Calendar).

According to representatives of the Vinh City Police, from the last months of 2013, the city police directed units to "Launch a high-intensity campaign to attack and suppress crime before, during, and after the Lunar New Year of 2014." On January 13, 2014, they continued to implement Plan No. 29/KH-CATP on patrolling and controlling to ensure security and order during the Lunar New Year of the Horse. At the same time, they strongly promoted the movement of all citizens participating in protecting national security. The police forces of wards and communes, and related professional teams, promptly developed detailed plans and quickly assigned forces to conduct comprehensive patrols and controls in their assigned areas 24/7. Meanwhile, the people have raised their awareness, taken preventive measures, and actively participated in preventing and combating crime and social evils...

According to Mr. Thai Thanh Ha, Chief of the Office of the People's Committee of Vinh City, the Vinh City government did not simply issue Directive 01/CT-UBND assigning tasks to units, but rather collaborated in ensuring security and order throughout the city. The plan specifically assigned four working groups, led by the Chairman and Vice-Chairmen of the People's Committee, with the Chief Prosecutor of the People's Procuracy and the heads and deputy heads of the City Police as deputy heads, to directly monitor, direct, inspect, supervise, and guide the authorities of wards and communes and related units in carrying out their duties. Mr. Thai Thanh Ha stated: Maintaining security and order, ensuring peace for the people to celebrate the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Horse, is one of the key priorities the city has set at this time...

Text and photos:Nhat Lan