Police forces in Central Highlands mobilize locals to surrender illegally stored weapons and explosives

Ea H’leo is home to various ethnic minority groups, and a small number of local people still make their own weapons for hunting, which can be potential threats to others’ lives and health as well as local security and order. Some local people are aware of the danger caused by home-made weapons, but they have no idea who they should surrender them to.

The police in Ea H’leo have carried out a plan to encourage local people to surrender their weapons, explosives, combating gears and artillery shells, since the beginning of July. In implementing the plan, local police give rice to local people in exchange of their home-made weapons. The police also set up various gathering places, creating favorable conditions for local people to exchange weapons for rice.  To date, over 300 guns and explosives of different kinds have been surrendered, said Colonel Nguyen Cong Hoa, Chief of Ea H’leo Police.

During each mobilization drive, the police of Ea H’leo presented gifts, including rice and instant noodles, to those handing over their weapons the authority, as well as to underprivileged households.

Ho Van Muoi, Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee of Dak Nong, earlier called upon all people in the province to give up their illegally stored weapons and explosives to the authority.

In a letter published on July 3, Chairman Ho Van Muoi writes, “A group of suspects using weapons, supporting tools, and homemade explosives attacked the headquarters of Ea Tieu and Ea Ktur communes, Cu Kuin district, Dak Lak province, on June 6, causing huge losses as well as insecurity and disorder in Dak Lak and neighboring provinces. In order to prevent similar incidents, I urge people not to illegally store, manufacture, trade, transport and use weapons, explosives and combating gears. People should report the illegal possession, production, manufacturing, trading, transportation, and use of weapons, explosives and combating gears to the nearest police office or contact the provincial police hotline: 1900888842.

The Provincial Court, Procuracy, and Police Department of Dak Lak on June 24 issued a letter calling on those involved in the attacks on the headquarters of two communes to surrender. In addition, the court, procuracy and police also request people throughout the province to actively detect and voluntarily hand over weapons and explosives to the authority.