Syria's president Bashar al-Assad
issued on Monday a legislative decree licensing private companies for
protection and guarding services, State-run news agency (SANA) said.
The decree stipulates that the
Interior Ministry will be in charge of licensing these companies, giving them
permission to use firearms, and approving candidates for guard work, with these
companies being responsible for training their employees and equipping them,
the agency reported.
The Assad regime apparently works to
"legitimizing" the work of its militias like the 'Popular National
Defense Army', Observers told Eqtsad.
"Arming civilians under pretext
of protecting can descend the Syrian conflict into more sectarian levels,''
they added.
Analysts have noted that the decree has
allowed arms and ammunition importing for these companies, which are in fact in
favor of the regime, they said.
The decree also authorized the 'new militias' to arrest
any individual that attempts to trespass or attack locations, individuals,
items or funds under their protection, and they must report to the police as
soon as they make an arrest. 'Guards' must adhere to the rules of justifiable
defense established by law in their use of force, according to the Decree.
Meanwhile, Assad continued creating
armed groups, at a time Syria did not need extra militarization and
proliferation of arms, analysts said.
Eqtsad, Zaman Alwasl's Business Newspaer
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