Charbel Reassures Saniora that Boosting Municipal Police Doesn't Lead to Self-Security

Caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said he informed al-Mustaqbal bloc chief Fouad Saniora that his plan for arming municipal police to provide enhanced security across Lebanon would not pave way for the rise of militias.

Saniora “expressed fears that party members would take hold of municipal work but I reassured him that I set certain standards to guarantee the safety of this mission,” Charbel told An Nahar daily published Wednesday.

He said his plan for local councils to help the Internal Security Forces in imposing law and order includes regulations to have competent municipal taskforce members who are well known by the residents of each area and have no prior criminal records.

“We haven't taken this step to give benefits to parties and politicians,” Charbel said. “We are keen on controlling the mission of the guards in accordance to the law to provide tranquility to the citizens.”

“Their role is to help the security forces,” Charbel explained to Saniora during a telephone conversation on Tuesday.

In addition to bolstering municipal police, the plan includes installing cameras in residential streets and neighborhoods and boosting security in places of worship and schools.

An Nahar said Saniora telephoned the caretaker minister to warn him that certain parties would take advantage of armed municipal policemen to impose their self-security in certain areas.

Such a move would lead to the rise of militias, Saniora reportedly told Charbel.