South Hwanghae province establishes checkpoints at forest entry points and deploys lookout teams with inspection authority as regime warns starting fires “amounts to an attempt to overthrow the state.”
“Following the government’s general mobilization order, the people’s committee of South Hwanghae province convened an emergency two-day teleconference meeting of city and county forest rangers on Nov. 22 and 23 and ordered the bolstering of the forestry command system and general mobilization campaign to prevent forest fires,” a Daily NK source in South Hwanghae province said recently.
During the meeting, the provincial people’s committee raised awareness and heightened tension in the virtual room by unveiling a video on the negative impact of large-scale forest fires on society and public life, creating a tense atmosphere.
According to the source, the provincial people’s committee ordered the mandatory establishment of checkpoints at major forest entry points in all cities and counties and the deployment of forest fire lookout teams, declaring the start of a “battle to combat national disasters from late November,” when continuous dry weather begins.
The forest fire lookout teams were given the authority to restrict entry into the forests through inspections. They were also given the explicit duty not only to watch for forest fires but also to respond immediately to blazes when they occur.
Special permits required as regime bans matches, lighters and cigarettes
The provincial people’s committee banned public access to forests in principle, but allowed a limited number of people with special permits to enter. However, even people with permission to enter forests were banned from carrying matches, lighters, cigarettes or other flammable items or materials that could ignite a blaze.
“At the meeting, they even said that ‘starting forest fires amounts to an attempt to overthrow the state,’ and strongly warned that anyone who breaks the rules regarding access to mountains and forests would be severely punished, regardless of who they are,” the source said.
The meeting also ordered forestry rangers to create firebreaks in at-risk areas by piling earth and sandbags. In particular, the provincial people’s committee designated reforested areas where young trees were planted this spring and autumn as priority protection zones — we can tolerate not even a single case of a sapling being reduced to ash, it said.
Additionally, the meeting named the deputy chairpersons of city and county people’s committees as “forest fire prevention commanders.” These commanders oversee all wildfire-related operations in their jurisdictions — including directing responses, receiving field reports and implementing emergency measures — and will be held accountable should they neglect or poorly execute any of these responsibilities.
The command system was intensified to a level equal to wartime. The new system also calls for regular and immediate reports.
The provincial people’s committee designated the period up to the party plenary meeting in mid-December as a “primary general mobilization period for preventing forest fires,” sternly reiterating the message that if forest fires erupt during this period, all those involved and responsible would be treated as “criminals who caused a national disaster.”
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