The Governor of North Darfur, Osman Kibir, has announced a \u201cpackage of emergency measures\u201d in order to curb the insecurity in the state.<\/p>\n
Kibir stipulated that \u201ca combined force of regular troops (the army, various police forces, security and intelligence forces) with the support of the Popular Committees will implement a scheme, named the \u201cGoogle scheme\u201d. All buildings and houses in El Fasher will be searched for \u201cwanted criminals, crime tools and everything contradicting the law\u201d. Suspected people will be arrested and \u201csuspicious money\u201d confiscated for investigation.<\/p>\n
The governor has delegated his powers (as stipulated in the 1997 Emergency Act for the Protection of Public Safety) for the period of two months to the commissioners of localities in North Darfur state. The governor ordered the native administrations, in cases of \u201ctribal conflicts, armed conflicts, or drugs trade\u201d to immediately arrest the suspects or inform one of the Security Committees.<\/p>\n
The \u201cpolice, the national security forces and the 6th<\/sup> Brigade\u201d will operate under the command of the locality commissioners. They will be authorised \u201cto detain any person, acting in any way against the public security and safety\u201d. Coordinated by the Common Bureau, the \u201carmed forces\u201d can \u201csearch any house, vehicle, shop, store or person at any time, using a maximum of force and firearms if necessary\u201d.<\/p>\n Kibir also has authorised native administration leaders, the Popular Committees and the Community Committees to immediately report to the Security Committees of the localities about \u201cany suspected troublemaker, provoker, purveyor of lies and rumours, and arrest any citizen, whatever his profession is, in case of any reasonable suspicion that the person is involved with drugs or weapons, or shows disregard of the prestige of the state\u201d. All unlicensed vehicles and motorcycles are to be investigated, legalised or confiscated.<\/p>\n The governor strictly prohibited the carrying of firearms to markets or public places, \u201cwhatever justifications there may be, except for the regular forces maintaining security in public places during the official working hours\u201d. The wearing of masks, or \u201cany means to cover the face\u201d, is forbidden too.<\/p>\n Kibir also banned the smoking of shisha waterpipes in public places.<\/p>\n File photo: <\/em>Osman Kibir<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n