Lebanese MPs Demand Regulation of Beirut Guard Regiment After Killing Incident
(AWP) - Controversy over the powers and duties of the Beirut Guard Regiment has once again resurfaced in Lebanon following the death of one person and the injury of another at one of its checkpoints.
Lebanese Members of Parliament are advocating for the continuation of the municipal security forces, which MP Melhem Khalaf described as playing a crucial role in “reassuring” residents of the capital.
Khalaf told AWP, “A meeting was held for all of Beirut’s MPs, during which there was a discussion about security within the capital. Among the issues was the adherence to the municipal Guard Regiment, which has tasks crucial for reassuring the people. Especially since we completely and categorically reject the thought of having [private] self-security.”
Last month, Beirut’s Municipal Council called on the capital’s Mayor to ban checkpoints erected by the Guard Regiment which stops violators of motorcycling laws.
A meeting was held by the Beirut Members of Parliament to discuss the matter, with Khalaf stating that it is necessary to establish measures regulating the work of the regiment and helping it perform its duties properly.
Khalaf continued, “The other important point is to provide them with the necessary equipment to fulfil their mission. These two points are essential because they give the regiment the prestige, self-confidence, and the measures to carry out their mission. Without regulations, we would be outside the desired framework. The third point is to ask the security forces to support them when they are on the ground. This is fundamental and necessary.”
Beirut is grappling with a rise in thefts and car theft, with experts reporting that the economic crisis afflicting the country since 2019 has increased crime rates.