Crack police units mobilised
At least five army-level units of the People's Armed Police (PAP) have been mobilised to enforce security for the NPC and CPPCC sessions, the official mouthpiece of the Public Security Ministry reported yesterday.
'PAP Headquarters Commander Yang Guoping and Political Commissar Xu Yongqing made personal inspections at all the units commissioned to the security task,' the People's Security News said.
Beijing's PAP General Unit was the first to carry out its assignment on Lunar New Year's Day, the paper said.
The capital's paramilitary force set up a group to study and formulate security issues and contingency plans. Specially trained officers and soldiers were selected to take up guard duty for the conferences.
Troops were also sent to guard the meeting and residential venues to provide 'absolute security and other conveniences for the deputies'.
PAP general units from the neighbouring provinces and regions of Hebei, Tianjin, Shanxi and Inner Mongolia were also mobilised to serve as the 'security flank' to the capital, the paper said.
'Mobile squads have been despatched to patrol day and night at the railroads, highways and airports to ensure safety of the arrival and departure of the deputies for the annual meetings,' it said.
Police forces have also prevented petitioners from villages and towns from converging on major cities, particularly Beijing.
