STF to provide security for Maldives SAARC Summit in November
Sri Lanka will provide security from its Special Task Force (STF)
units for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
summit in Addu City next month.
STF, an elite special forces unit of the Sri Lankan police formed in
1983 focuses on counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations.
The Maldives Foreign Ministry and the Maldives National Defence Force
(MNDF) confirmed on Friday that the STF will send police dogs to support
unidentified security matters. "Previously, security dogs were allowed
at the international airport, I'm not sure if they are still there but
Maldivian law permits dogs to be used for security measures," said MNDF
Spokesperson Abdul Raheem.
"The dogs will clear the same areas as the event and other security
forces, but I can't say what they will be looking for," he said.
President's Office Press Secretary Mohamed Zuhair told Minivan News
that the STF dogs would not be an issue for the SAARC event. "We had
dogs earlier for security without any trouble, I don't see why anybody
should object because the government has employed dogs before," he said.
All countries participating in the SAARC convention are providing
security forces.
According to Zuhair, Bangladesh has donated trucks to the Army, India
is providing police forces, and equipment at an estimated value of
US$400,000 will arrive from Pakistan in the next few days. China will
provide CCTV equipment for surveillance. "It's a well-integrated and
cooperative effort with MNDF and all participating members," said Zuhair
adding that Addu was a unique site for an event of this magnitude. "The
last SAARC was held in Male', but this time the event will be spread
across several islands.
Transportation logistics will be different," said Zuhair. Raheem said
security preparations are under way for SAARC, and that MNDF "is sure
that things will be to our satisfaction." Heads of state from the region
will be attending SAARC, several of which are currently high-profile
figures in the international community. "We have to look at this as a
high-risk event. Some heads of state are high-risk, but we are treating
each and every head of state as high-risk to ensure their security,"
said Raheem. Local media reports that STF forces have been having
special training programs in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo to prepare
for the Addu event.
(Minivan News)
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