Hotel, building operators told to improve security<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Police have warned hotel and building operators in Jakarta to
\nimprove security amid heightened concerns of terrorist attacks.<\/p>\n
\"Hotels, whether or not they are star-rated, as well as
\ncommercial complexes like malls and business centers, must
\nimprove safety standards and security systems. Otherwise, they
\nmust be ready to face disaster,\" National Police deputy detective
\nchief of crime affairs, Insp. Gen. I Made Mangku Pastika told The
\nJakarta Post on the sidelines of a one-day workshop titled
\n\"Jakarta Hotel and Commercial Complex Security Workshop\" on
\nMonday.<\/p>\n
Pastika, who also heads the Bali bombing investigative team,
\nreferred to the Bali attack last year which ripped through the
\nSari Club and Paddy's Cafe in Kuta, Bali, claiming nearly 200
\nlives, mostly foreign tourists.<\/p>\n
Pastika said the threat of terrorism remained, although police
\nhad managed to capture many of the terrorist suspects who would
\nsoon be tried in court.<\/p>\n
He further said that many hotels and commercial complexes had
\nnot yet been equipped with adequate security and safety systems
\nto counter terrorist attacks.<\/p>\n
\"At least, they have to meet the minimum standards for
\nrequired safety and security systems... Definitely, they must
\nspend extra money for it.\"<\/p>\n
Jakarta has at least 297 hotels and dozens of malls, business
\ncomplexes and shopping centers. Most of the upmarket hotels and
\nbusiness centers usually have better security systems than their
\nlow-cost counterparts.<\/p>\n
Pastika's statement came hot on the heels of heightened
\nsecurity concerns in Jakarta in the aftermath of the recent bomb
\nattack on National Police Headquarters earlier last week -- the
\nfirst-ever attack of its kind.<\/p>\n
The low-yield device left egg on the face of the police, who
\nhave just begun to win over the public following its success in
\narresting prime suspects in the Bali and Makassar bombings.<\/p>\n
An explosion which injured a farmer in Penggilingan, Cakung,
\nEast Jakarta, last weekend, and a bomb hoax against police
\nheadquarters on Sunday, have further heightened concerns
\nregarding security.<\/p>\n
Pastika told the participants of the workshop that police were
\nfacing difficulties in uncovering the bomb attack on
\nheadquarters.<\/p>\n
The bombers, Pastika admitted, were very smart, as they had
\nused a different technique to make the bomb, with minimum
\nwitnesses and evidence left for a police investigation.<\/p>\n
\"Not to be pessimistic, but we will take a longer time to
\nuncover this bomb attack,\" Pastika said.<\/p>\n
Pastika was one of the speakers of the workshop, along with
\nTim Dumas, one of the regional security officers assigned to the
\nU.S. Embassy in Jakarta; Tim McNulty, regional head of corporate
\nsecurity firm JP Morgan; and Russel Chalon of electronic security
\nsystems maker Chubb Singapore.<\/p>\n
The workshop was attended by more than 100 participants of the
\nhotel and commercial complex managements.<\/p>\n
Similarly, Tim Dumas asserted that no place was immune to
\nterrorist attacks, recounting the threat of possible attacks on
\ninternational schools, which led to a recommendation for the
\nrespective schools to close.<\/p>\n
Dumas said that not only security personnel, but all staff
\nmembers should be subject to basic safety and security training.<\/p>\n
In regards counter-terrorism training, Dumas recalled the
\nvisit of U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell in August last
\nyear, who had given a US$50 million assistance fund to provide
\ncounter-terrorism training for police and government officials.<\/p>\n
Preparatory tips for a possible terrorist attack:<\/p>\n
1. Assess the building's risk to an attack, for example,
\ncriticality (the importance of the building to the operation of
\nthe business) and vulnerability to any possible means of attack.<\/p>\n
2. Improve surveillance systems, including reevaluating video
\ncamera locations over areas like parking lots, staircases,
\nbuilding perimeters, elevators and entry and exit points.<\/p>\n
3. Install emergency phone stations.<\/p>\n
4. Provide security awareness and safety training to all staff.<\/p>\n
Source: Papers presented by speakers of workshop, \"Jakarta Hotel
\nand Commercial Complex Security Workshop\".<\/p>",
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