Bali bombing 'good' for security firms<\/p>\n
Associated Press, Hong Kong<\/p>\n
Terrorism has proven to be good business for security companies -
\nwho provide everything from armed guards to full-scale corporate
\nevacuations - and the Bali bombing has boosted demand even
\nfurther, executives said Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Right after the deadly attacks on the Indonesian resort
\nisland, requests for new or enhanced security systems jumped by
\n30 percent to 40 percent at Apro Technology in Singapore.<\/p>\n
\"Those that responded immediately were from high-profile
\ncompanies or they were companies from high-profile countries like
\nAustralia and the United States,\" said Ignatius Kahn, marketing
\nmanager at Apro, which provides guards and security systems.<\/p>\n
While Bali hasn't prompted the same deluge of calls that
\npoured in after the Sept. 11 attacks in New York and Washington -
\nwhich spurred many to take security seriously - some who had
\nviewed Bali as safe were now wondering what other apparently safe
\nplaces could be in danger.<\/p>\n
\"Those who have not done anything since Sept. 11 because they
\nhad this perception that nothing would happen here - well, I
\nthink they are reconsidering,\" Kahn said.<\/p>\n
Things were much the same at other regional security
\ncompanies.<\/p>\n
\"Our Indonesian office has already been busy,\" said Aaron
\nLeung, a security consultant with Pinkerton (Hong Kong) Ltd. \"Not
\nonly because of the bombing, but because it is a volatile
\ncountry. After the bombing - something like this will keep them
\nextra busy.\"<\/p>\n
Leung wouldn't predict how much more business might come in.
\n\"It's not like 400 percent or 500 percent,\" he said.<\/p>\n
At Political & Economic Risk Consultancy Ltd. in Hong Kong,
\nanalyst Bob Broadfoot had just been working on an island-by-
\nisland assessment of the risks that companies face in the
\nIndonesian archipelago.<\/p>\n
\"Bali we would have rated as a low risk,\" Broadfoot said.<\/p>\n
However, Broadfoot warned the quick assessments of who was
\nresponsible, with many blaming the al-Qaida terror network or
\nJemaah Islamiyah, which wants to establish a pan-Islamic state in
\nSoutheast Asia, could be detrimental.<\/p>\n
Such conclusions can feed on themselves, when in reality the
\nrisks following the Bali bombing are quite different depending on
\nwhether the perpetrators were foreigners who might strike
\nelsewhere, or homegrown groups seeking to make a political point
\nspecifically in Indonesia, he said.<\/p>\n
\"It's really discouraging to see people jump to conclusions,\"
\nBroadfoot said. \"Some people were immediately saying it's al-
\nQaida. If that's the case, then it's significant for other
\ncountries like Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong. If they can pick a
\nBali they can pick an anyplace.\"<\/p>\n
Leung said tougher security measures taken across Asia over
\nthe past year have varied from country to country, based on
\nperceived threats in different locations.<\/p>\n
In mainland China, some companies hired dedicated staffers to
\nscreen mail, fearing an anthrax crisis like the one in the U.S.<\/p>\n
In Hong Kong, which isn't seen as a high-risk area, companies
\nhave been more likely to make it harder for outsiders to enter
\ntheir places of business, by installing keypad door locks or
\ngiving employees cards that must be swiped to gain access.<\/p>\n
One five-star hotel in Hong Kong has installed an X-ray
\nmachine and a device that detects minute particles of explosives,
\nand workers now check all mail and parcels going in, Leung said.
\nHe declined to identify the hotel.<\/p>\n
Kahn said while much can be done to protect private businesses
\nor homes it can be difficult to protect restaurants and bars like
\nthe ones targeted in Bali.<\/p>\n
Because they are by nature open to the public, bars and
\nrestaurants should try installing cameras in plain view as a
\ndeterrent and make sure that parking lots aren't too close - so
\nterrorists would find it harder to carry out car bombings, Kahn
\nsaid.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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