Makassar police beef up security in recollection of 2002 blasts<\/p>\n
Andi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post, Makassar, South Sulawesi<\/p>\n
South Sulawesi provincial police will beef up security in the
\ncapital Makassar and regional areas ahead of the Idul Fitri
\nholiday, as two bomb attacks here on the eve of the Islamic
\nholiday last year are still fresh in the minds of many.<\/p>\n
Sr. Comr. A. Nurman Tahir, spokesman of the South Sulawesi
\nprovincial police, told reporters on Saturday that security
\nmeasures would be tightened in the capital, in order to prevent a
\nrepeat of last year's attacks.<\/p>\n
"Under operation Ketupat Liput 2003 (or code name ketupat,
\nreferring to the special rice cakes eaten at Idul Fitri) we will
\nincrease police personnel in the areas up to 20 percent from last
\nyear's holiday. Military and other related forces will assist
\nus," Nurman said.<\/p>\n
Under the operation a total of 4500 personnel will be deployed
\n-- 3500 from the police, 500 from the military, and another 500
\nfrom paramedic units and from the Land Transportation Agency.<\/p>\n
Most personnel will be deployed in the capital, while others
\nwill be deployed in regional areas.<\/p>\n
The Ketupat Liput operation will run for two weeks, from Nov.
\n18 to Dec. 2, or seven days before and after Idul Fitri.<\/p>\n
Last year's attacks ripped through a McDonald's fast-food
\nrestaurant and a car showroom, owned by Coordinating Minister for
\nPeople's Welfare Jusuf Kalla.<\/p>\n
Three people were killed, while fifteen others were injured in
\nthe two explosions.<\/p>\n
Nurman warned that further attacks were a possibility as the
\nperpetrators of last year's bombings were still at large.<\/p>\n
But, Nurman told people not to be afraid, as police personnel
\nhad identified crime spots and other areas likely to be targeted
\nby terrorists.<\/p>\n
Among the 131 crime spots he acknowledged were the Trans
\nSulawesi road, shopping malls, restaurants, religious sites and
\ntourist resorts.<\/p>\n
Nurman declined to specify which areas he thought likely to be
\ntargeted by terrorists. However, he promised that the police
\nwould deploy bomb squads in these areas and keep suspicious
\nindividuals out.<\/p>\n
He was quick to add that 200 police personnel will be on 24-
\nhour standby at the police headquarters in the capital during the
\noperation.<\/p>\n
The Idul Fitri holiday will fall on Nov. 25 and Nov. 26.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/makassar-police-beef-up-security-in-recollection-of-2002-blasts-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }