Police ready to anticipate possible riots<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): City police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said
\nyesterday that police had been deployed throughout the city to
\nprevent unrest following the government's closure of 16 ailing
\nprivate banks.<\/p>\n
"There isn't any special squad or operation. Police patrols
\naround business areas will be held as usual. But, yes, we will be
\nmore alert to anticipate any possible commotion caused by the
\nbank closure announcement," he said.<\/p>\n
The government announced Saturday the closure of 16 banks as
\npart of the International Monetary Fund's reform package.<\/p>\n
The 16 banks include Bank Harapan Sentosa, Sejahtera Bank
\nUmum, Bank Andromeda, Bank Pacific, Bank Astria Raya, Bank Guna
\nInternational and Bank Dwipa Semesta.<\/p>\n
Thousands of disgruntled customers are expected to flock to
\nthe banks' offices today to get their money back.<\/p>\n
Aritonang said police officers would be ready to maintain
\norder at each bank branch to ensure all customers were given an
\nopportunity to retrieve their money.<\/p>\n
He refused to disclose the number of officers assigned to
\nsecure the banks across the city.<\/p>\n
An intelligence officer from the Army's special force
\n(Kopassus) said officers would be deployed to back up today's
\nsecurity program. Kopassus officers would be posted at some areas
\nin Greater Jakarta, he said without providing further details.<\/p>\n
He said the servicemen would be operating undercover.<\/p>\n
"We'll just monitor the situation but we're always ready to
\nback up the police and the Army."<\/p>\n
The presence of more security guards and police officers at
\nseveral banks, especially Bank Harapan Sentosa in Harmoni,
\nCentral Jakarta, yesterday, indicated that both the bank and the
\npolice have made preparations to cope with today's rush.<\/p>\n
Several "no entry" notices have been placed at the bank's main
\nentrance, while a team of police officers from the Central
\nJakarta and Gambir police precincts were stationed in front of
\nthe bank.<\/p>\n
An officer, who did not want to be named, said yesterday the
\nteam were deployed after Saturday's announcement.<\/p>\n
However, he refused to divulge the number of personnel
\ninvolved.<\/p>\n
He said it was believed that the bank's executives had held a
\nmeeting at the bank from 2 p.m. yesterday.<\/p>\n
Some customers came to the bank yesterday to convince
\nthemselves that it had really been closed down by the government.<\/p>\n
Several bank employees also came to their office for the
\nlatest information regarding their future employment.<\/p>\n
An employee of Bank Harapan Sentosa's East Jakarta branch,
\nTuti, said that she would accept the final outcome, even if meant
\nshe was jobless.<\/p>\n
One of the bank's customers, Rudi of Pancoran, South Jakarta,
\nsaid Bank Harapan Sentosa's closure was quite unbelievable.<\/p>\n
"I am surprised because the bank seemed to be very strong as
\nwas indicated by their modern offices and their quick service,"
\nhe said. (04\/cst)<\/p>",
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