Traffic police to get tasers
By Toe Wai Aung | Monday, 23 June 2014Until now they've been armed only with whistles, but traffic police in Yangon will soon be wielding tasers in an effort to maintain order on the city's streets.
"These tasers will be used when there is violence. At the present time, two tasers will be provided to each of the nine traffic police forces and also we will buy more tasers for all members to use," said Police Superintendent Lin Htut from Yangon's traffic police force.
Tasers employ an electrical current to temporarily stun their victims and are used by many police forces worldwide. Advocates say they are an effective policing tool that can save lives in situations where a handgun would otherwise have been used.
However, human rights organisations, such as Amnesty International, have raised concerns over their use.
Yangon's traffic police force says the officers have been trained to use the tasers and they will only be employed for self-defence.
"Tasers will not be used in most places. They will be used when our police officers' lives are in danger," Police Inspector Myo Aung said.
Translation by Khant Lin Oo
Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2014/06/23/traffic-police-to-get-tasers/
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