Chief of Office of the Ministry of Public Security informs about the attack in Dak Lak

On June 16, in Hanoi , the Central Propaganda Department coordinated with the Central Public Security Party Committee to organize the Central Reporters Conference for June 2023.

Major General Dang Hong Duc, Chief of the Office of the Ministry of Public Security, gave a quick briefing at the conference. Photo: Phuong Hoa/VNA

At the Conference, Major General Dang Hong Duc, Chief of Office of the Ministry of Public Security, quickly informed about the incident causing disorder in Dak Lak .

According to Major General Dang Hong Duc, early on the morning of June 11, in Cu Kuin district, Dak Lak province, two groups of armed individuals broke into and attacked the headquarters of the People's Committee of Ea Tieu commune and Ea Ktur commune (including the working area of the commune police) in Cu Kuin district. The result was 11 casualties, including 9 deaths, including 4 commune police officers; 2 commune officials and 3 residents; 2 commune police officers were injured.

Specifically, at the headquarters of Ea Tieu commune, Cu Kuin district, a group of about 10 people carrying weapons including homemade military guns, sports guns and petrol bombs broke in and destroyed and burned the one-door area of the People's Committee of the commune, the office of the People's Committee of the commune, the workplace of the commune militia and self-defense force, the workplace of the commune police, causing the deaths of 2 officers and soldiers of the Ea Tieu commune police on duty.

On the way back, the subjects shot and killed the Chairman of the People's Committee of the commune; at the intersection of National Highway 27 bordering the two communes of Ea Tieu and Ea Ktur, the subjects controlled a pickup truck and shot and killed the driver.

In Ea Ktur commune, Cu Kuin district, a group of about 30 people carrying guns, grenades, petrol bombs, and knives traveled by car to the inter-commune road leading to the commune People's Committee headquarters. Here, the group controlled a 20-ton truck driver, forced the driver to block the road to the commune People's Committee headquarters, destroyed the tires, threw petrol bombs into the cabin, and murdered the driver. After that, the group stormed the headquarters, smashed, burned, and attacked, killing 2 commune police officers, injuring 2 comrades, and burning a car; killing 3 more people, including the Ea Ktur commune Party Secretary and 2 residents; and holding 3 ethnic minority people hostage.

Major General Dang Hong Duc emphasized that through the incident, both the Secretary and Chairman of the Commune People's Committee were extremely responsible. "Comrades received a phone call informing them that something had happened at the Commune People's Committee, and on the way from home to the headquarters to give instructions, they encountered these subjects and were murdered by them," said Major General Dang Hong Duc.

Regarding the direction of handling the incident, Major General Dang Hong Duc said that on the night of the incident, the Ministry of Public Security quickly increased professional forces to synchronously deploy measures to surround and block off related areas, protect government headquarters, ensure absolute security and safety for people and capture the subject.

General To Lam, Politburo member, Minister of Public Security chaired an online meeting with leaders of the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Public Security's Professional Department with the Public Security of 9 provinces in the Central Highlands and neighboring provinces, directed the handling of the incident and assigned Senior Lieutenant General Luong Tam Quang, Deputy Minister of Public Security to directly go to Dak Lak to direct the handling of the incident. Mobilizing the entire Dak Lak Provincial Police, the Police of the Central Highlands and neighboring provinces into groups to participate in capturing the subject, recovering weapons and explosives, blocking the area, forming layers to protect the headquarters and the people.

Along with implementing professional work, the Ministry of Public Security has promptly implemented policies and regimes, promptly visited and encouraged the families of officers and soldiers who sacrificed or were injured, and visited and encouraged the families of officers and people who were victims.

With a spirit of fierce attack and capture of the subjects, up to now, the police force has arrested and handled over 50 subjects directly involved in the incident, especially all the ringleaders were arrested and many weapons including military weapons, homemade weapons and sports weapons, knives, grenades and some bullets, Fulro flags were seized; the hostages were absolutely rescued safely and the spread of the incident to any point in the area was not allowed.

Through initial investigation, the majority of the arrested subjects were young people, who confessed that they had committed the act due to being incited and incited through cyberspace and inciting division between Kinh people and ethnic minorities with the pretext of demanding land. They believed that the land was left by their ancestors, and had the illusion that they would be able to go abroad. The goal was to expand and create a buzz and attack the headquarters of the People's Committee of the commune to infiltrate the commune militia and police to steal weapons.

According to Major General Dang Hong Duc, in their oaths, the subjects openly criticized the regime, distorted land issues, divided the great national unity bloc, and used this oath to cause ideological changes, attract and incite young subjects.

Regarding the process of handling the case, Major General Dang Hong Duc emphasized that the vast majority of public opinion was outraged and strongly condemned the barbaric actions of the subjects. The police force participating in the process of capturing the subjects received great support from the people, including the Kinh people and ethnic minorities. The people hope that the authorities will soon capture and strictly handle the subjects.

However, taking advantage of this incident, reactionary forces simultaneously released malicious information, distorted comments, and incited sabotage against democracy, human rights, ethnicity, and religion, directing public opinion to attack the government and the police force.

Preliminary assessment, the Ministry of Public Security found that this was a serious, organized, lawless and reckless act that caused insecurity and disorder, was barbaric, inhumane and the perpetrators were ethnic minority extremists from many districts in Dak Lak province. The incident occurred in a key security area, causing particularly serious consequences.

Here, Major General Dang Hong Duc noted that it is necessary to clearly distinguish that through this incident, the vast majority of ethnic minorities still believe in the Party and the State, only a very small number of extremists cause the behavior. The police force in the process of handling the incident thoroughly understood that without the support of the people, it would be impossible to arrest all the subjects in a short time. The people in the area, not only the Kinh people, but all ethnic minorities living in the Central Highlands, unanimously support and help the police force to arrest the extremist subjects.

Regarding the cause, plot, and intention of the subjects, in the initial assessment, Major General Dang Hong Duc said that hostile forces and exiled Fulro subjects incited some ethnic minorities to divide the Kinh people from ethnic minorities, causing disorder and creating a buzz, creating the illusion of being abroad. "Up to now, the initial signs of influence and incitement by exiled Fulro subjects have been clarified. The police force is continuing to investigate and clarify this matter," said Major General Dang Hong Duc.

Regarding the direction and measures in the coming time, Major General Dang Hong Duc said that the Ministry of Public Security will continue to pursue all criminals, seize all weapons and explosives, and ensure absolute safety for people and forces participating in the pursuit; conduct investigation and handle cases promptly in accordance with regulations. Synchronously deploy measures to eliminate the risk of similar incidents, taking advantage of the incident, inciting disorder and insecurity. Direct the review of all plans to absolutely ensure security in key areas, targets, and fields, grasp the situation and advise Party committees and authorities to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of state management, eliminate potential complex factors that arise early and far away.

The Ministry of Public Security requests that Party committees and authorities of Dak Lak province, the Central Highlands provinces and neighboring provinces pay special attention to implementing mass mobilization work well, grasping the people, being close to the people, promptly detecting pressing conflicts within the people to resolve them early, from the root, and raising the vigilance of the masses against the plots and tricks of hostile reactionary forces to sabotage and incite division of the great national unity bloc, promoting the effective and substantial movement of the entire people to protect national security, making people voluntarily, consciously, and actively participate in the fight against and denounce crimes, providing information to the police force, ensuring security and order, taking care of effectively implementing socio-economic development policies, ensuring social security and improving the material and spiritual life of the people with specific results. This is considered the most fundamental solution to build and promote a solid people's heart position in the people's security position.

The Ministry of Public Security hopes that cadres and people will help and accompany the People's Public Security force; clearly understand the nature of the incident, support and wholeheartedly share the policies of the Party and State.

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