Police beef up security at airports<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta\/Denpasar, Bali<\/p>\n
Hot on the heels of the bomb attack at the Soekarno-Hatta
\nInternational Airport in Jakarta on Sunday morning, police said
\non Monday they had beefed up security at airports nationwide.<\/p>\n
\"We have deployed more troops and equipped them with metal
\ndetectors,\" National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar told
\nreporters after attending a Cabinet meeting at the State Palace.<\/p>\n
\"We apologize for any inconvenience caused by such security
\nmeasures,\" Da'i said.<\/p>\n
The low-yield bomb injured 11 people, including Yuli, an 18-
\nyear-old baby sitter, who lost her left leg.<\/p>\n
Five other injured people, Yuli, Minarti, Jihan, Silvia, and
\nRuswati, were still undergoing medical treatment at the Tangerang
\nGeneral Hospital in Banten Province and the Pantai Indah Kapuk
\nHospital in North Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The attack, the fourth bombing in Jakarta this year, came less
\nthan a week after a similar device exploded behind the United
\nNations Representative Office on Jl. M.H. Thamrin, in Central
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Makbul Padmanagara
\nsaid that in addition to increased security at the Soekarno-Hatta
\nairport terminal, security would be tightened in the airport
\ncompound.<\/p>\n
Similar measures were also taken by police at the second
\nlargest international airport in Indonesia, Ngurah Rai
\nInternational airport in Bali.<\/p>\n
Bali Police chief Insp. Gen. Budi Setyawan said he had ordered
\npolice to anticipate a similar attack.<\/p>\n
Bali has been in the international limelight following the
\nterrorist attack that claimed more than 200 lives last year.
\nTrials of those accused of involvement in the bombing are
\nexpected to begin in the middle of May.<\/p>\n
Airport police chief Adj. Comr. Sri Suari Wahyudi said they
\nhad interviewed more than 10 witnesses but had made little
\nprogress with their investigation.<\/p>\n
However, Da'i said police were currently looking at the
\npossibility the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) were involved.<\/p>\n
\"We cannot say whether there are relations between the blast
\nand the movement, but due to the similarities with the Medan
\nbombing, which was conducted by GAM members, we have to look at
\nthis possibility,\" Da'i said.<\/p>\n
There is also widespread speculation that the Indonesian
\nMilitary (TNI) could have planted the bombs to discredit GAM.<\/p>\n
Separately, Makbul expressed concern with the coordination of
\nsecurity guards at the airport, but did not blame police.<\/p>\n
Police officers were responsible for security in the public
\nareas, including the parking lots, while security guards working
\nfor Angkasa Pura II oversaw the restricted areas.<\/p>\n
However, Suari blamed the incident on the passengers, saying
\nthey were ignorant of security concerns. \"Many witnesses have
\nseen the unattended bag (containing the bomb), but they simply
\nthought it was luggage belonging to a passenger sitting near to
\nthe bag,\" Suari said.<\/p>\n
In future, luggage left unattended for more than five minutes
\nwould be inspected, he said.<\/p>\n
\"That is one of international standards that we have not been
\nimposed so far.\"<\/p>\n
Suari also complained that many government officials were
\nrefusing to submit to security searches, arguing they deserved to
\nbe treated differently.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, activities appeared to be returning to normal at
\nthe blast site on Monday. Passengers were packing the departure
\nhall as normal. The Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) fast food
\nrestaurant and the Sky Cafe Restaurant and Coffee House, which
\nwere close to the explosion, were also open as usual.<\/p>\n
The police line was removed on Sunday evening and all the
\ndebris removed. Only empty window panes were left.<\/p>",
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