Hanoi (VNA) – Minister of Public SecurityGeneral To Lam has stressed the need to absolutely ensure security and safetyfor the upcoming elections of deputies to the 15th National Assemblyand all-level People’s Councils for the 2021-2026 tenure.

In his recent article, Lam said the elections are apolitical event that is of great significance to the country and each locality.

Therefore, absolutely safeguarding security and safetyfor the elections, consolidating a safe and healthy environment, and creating optimalconditions for the organisation of the event have remained a key task of thepublic security force from late 2020 to the end of the elections, he said.

The ministry on July 30, 2020 issued a directive whichputs forth 11 groups of major tasks, along with a plan assigning tasks tospecific units and local police during the elections.  

A sub-committee for security and safety has been establishedand led by a leader of the ministry, Lam said, adding that the sub-committee isin charge of instructing the security and safety work during the event.  

The public security force has kept a sharp lookout forinternal political security, as well as information-communications, cyber andsocial security, and plots and activities of hostile forces and reactionary elementsthat aim to spoil the elections.  

Hundreds of reports have been presented to the Party,the State, the National Election Council and all-level election committees, offeringconsultations in the issuance of decisions and policies on national securityand interests.

The force has also played a role in settling issuesrelating to the selection and nomination of candidates, and the election work, andin beating plots that aim to take advantages of the personnel process toviolate national security and safety, and sabotage the Party and the State,helping to maintain political stability and creating a peaceful andfavourable environment for the elections.

Police have coordinated with competent agencies in detecting,preventing and handling activities of spreading complex information and illegalcampaigning, while joining efforts in addressing complaints and denunciationsregarding the elections.

The ministry has also issued a thematic plan on thecommunication work in order to promote efforts in ensuring safety and securityfor the elections, and mobilise the public security force nationwide in popularisingrelevant guidelines and policies of the Party, the State, the National ElectionCouncil and all-level election committees.

The plan has been carried out through diverse forms,such as the launch of websites and the publication of articles on social media,among others.

Notably, hundreds of thousands of articles, photos,images, video clips and documentaries have been released to oppose distorting andfalse information about the elections.

In anticipation of the elections, the public securityforce has stepped up the crime combat to ease the risk of terrorism and sabotage,and the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Police in localities have also drawn up plans for transportand firefighting, and security and safety plans in case of the pandemic spreadingamong the community, according to Lam.

“It can be said that security and safety preparationshave been made thoroughly, with the highest level, to stand ready to absolutelyprotect security and safety for the elections,” he affirmed.

At the end of the article, Lam called on the entirepublic security force to raise a sense of responsibility and closelycoordinate with the army and other competent forces in implementing the setplans.

“Any situation must be counted ahead and any minormistake must be avoided,” he stressed./.