As many as 6,000 officers under Vietnam’s ministries of Defence and Public Security on January 10 took part in a rehearsal held at Hanoi’s My Dinh National Stadium Square to test preparedness in dealing with different security incident scenarios ahead of the 13th National Party Congress (January 25-February 2).

In his remarks, Politburo member Tran Quoc Vuong stressed the importance of the congress and praised the achievements, proactiveness and efforts by the armed forces in upholding security for the congress, asking them to absolutely not let their guard down.

The standing member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) requires that the armed forces in all circumstances uphold a sense of responsibility, overcome all difficulties and bring their enthusiasm, strength and intelligence to maintain the security and safety of the Congress, as well as protect the CPV.

At the rehearsal, Minister of Public Security General To Lam said the police force will closely coordinate with the army and related units to effectively implement plans, keep a close watch on the situation and proactively foil schemes and activities of hostile and reactionary forces, and swear not to be passive or taken by surprise.

The minister said: “All levels of the police, from the ministry to the local units, from this moment on have started to be on the highest degree of alert, commit themselves wholeheartedly and willing to sacrifice, to ‘live and die with the party [the CPV], we exist as long as the party exists, to absolutely uphold the security and safety and the successful organisation of the National Party Congress’.”

The event saw a parade of essential units charged with protecting the CPV Congress, and a rehearsal was conducted to review the team, vehicles, technical equipment, military performances, martial arts, qigong, as well as the forces’ readiness to handle any gatherings of disrupters, riots, security incidents, terrorism scenarios, and rescuing hostages on high-rise buildings and protecting important figures.

In addition to the armed forces, Hanoi health workers also took part in the rehearsal to test preparedness for medical incidents.

VIET NAM NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK