Bali security tightened ahead of trials<\/p>\n
Wahyoe Boediwardhana, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali<\/p>\n
Bali police have tightened security measures at various entry
\npoints to the resort island ahead of the trials of the Bali
\nbombing suspects, following reports that certain groups would try
\nto disrupt the trials and to incite violent riots.<\/p>\n
Bali Police chief Insp. Gen. Made Mangku Pastika said here on
\nFriday that the police conducted security checks on passengers
\ncoming from Java via the Gilimanuk Ferry Harbor on the west coast
\nof the island.<\/p>\n
Police also checked every passenger coming from Lombok island
\nand others arriving at Padangbai harbor in east Bali.<\/p>\n
Incoming passengers to Bali must pass through three to four
\nidentity and security checks at each port. Similar arrangements
\nhad been made at bus stations on the island, Pastika said.<\/p>\n
"I could not guarantee 100 percent that we will be able to
\nmonitor all human activity in all corners of this island. But we
\nwill try, to the best of our ability, to protect the people and
\nforeign guests from the threat of terrorism," he told reporters
\nafter inspecting the readiness of some 3,000 police personnel
\nassigned to guard the trial.<\/p>\n
The first trial related to the bombing is to start on Monday.<\/p>\n
Pastika also disclosed that police intelligence had gathered
\ninformation on the possibility that certain groups would try to
\ndisrupt the trials of the Oct. 12, 2001 bombing suspects.<\/p>\n
He assured reporters that police intelligence had already
\namassed vital information on these groups, but declined to
\ndivulge further details on the groups and their plans.<\/p>\n
"For the time being, the threat from these groups is still
\nminor. I could not say exactly what the percentage is, since
\nthreat is not something that can be quantified ... All I can say
\nis that the threat does exist," Pastika told reporters.<\/p>\n
Still, Pastika reminded police officers not to underestimate
\nthe danger a possible threat might pose to court proceedings.<\/p>\n
"Please remember that we are now dealing with a terrorist
\ngroup. Do not underestimate any incoming information on the
\nthreat," he stressed.<\/p>\n
As the first trial would be broadcast live by nine foreign and
\nseven national television stations, Pastika urged the families
\nand relatives of the bombing victims to watch the trials on
\ntelevision, instead of observing them at the Nari Graha Building
\nin Renon.<\/p>\n
"Australian victims' families and relatives could monitor the
\ntrial on television at their hotels," he said.<\/p>\n
"Of course, I cannot bar them from coming to the trial venue,
\nbut in case the venue cannot accommodate the number of observers,
\nI advise that they follow the trial on television," Pastika said.<\/p>\n
He was also very concerned that certain groups might try to
\nprovoke and manipulate the families and relatives of victims
\nemotionally, if they attended the trial in person.<\/p>\n
Pastika also asked that people from outside Bali refrain from
\ncoming to the island to try and watch the trial.<\/p>\n
"I just want to secure Bali for the trial. Their outcomes will
\naffect the people of Indonesia. I just want to show the world
\nthat Indonesia can hold the trials in a transparent way," he
\nsaid.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bali-security-tightened-ahead-of-trials-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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