Public places beef up security after warnings<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta\/Yogyakarta<\/p>\n
As a bomb expert who once lectured in Yogyakarta remains at
\nlarge, efforts to beef up security continues at possible targets
\nfor terror bombs.<\/p>\n
Among them are the Kem Chicks market in Kemang, South Jakarta,
\nwhich is a favorite shopping spot for expatriate Jakartans and
\ntheir families.<\/p>\n
\"We had tightened security even before the media released the
\nnews on possible targets, as most of our guests are foreigners,\"
\nsaid the store manager on duty on Friday, who requested
\nanonymity. The source said additional security personnel have
\nbeen deployed to safeguard the store once the police revealed it
\nas a possible target.<\/p>\n
The JW Marriott Hotel in the Mega Kuningan Business District,
\nSouth Jakarta -- where a bomb exploded on Aug. 5 that killed 12
\npeople and injured 147 others -- has imposed tight security
\nchecks on vehicles entering the hotel's front gate.<\/p>\n
\"Since resuming operations, we have prioritized safety and
\nsecurity of our guests and employees,\" said the hotel's
\nspokeswoman Mellani Solagratia.<\/p>\n
Earlier Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Makbul Padmanagara
\nsaid that police remain on alert to prevent more bomb attacks in
\nthe city.<\/p>\n
Police had warned of the possibility of terror attacks in
\nearly February as fugitive Malaysian terror suspect Dr. Azahari
\nbin Husin and accomplices Noordin M. Top and Dulmatin, who all
\nremain at large, would celebrate the six-month anniversary of the
\nMarriott blast with another similar terrorist act.<\/p>\n
Azahari -- an alleged leader of Jamaah Islamiyah (JI), the al-
\nQaeda-linked terror group blamed for last year's Bali bombings
\nthat claimed 202 lives and the Marriott blast -- was a visiting
\nlecturer at Yogyakarta's Gadjah Mada University (UGM).<\/p>\n
UGM Rector Sofian Effendi said on Friday that Azahari taught a
\nclass on property taxes in 1996. He was seconded from the
\nMalaysian University of Technology (UTM).<\/p>\n
\"He was invited as an expert on property management. He was a
\nlecturer at UTM. I assumed he was not involved yet in terrorist
\nactivities at that time,\" Sofian said.<\/p>\n
Embassies have continuously been warning their citizens of
\npotential dangers particularly in view of terrorist acts. On
\nThursday the Australian embassy's web site informed its citizens
\nthat \"We continue to receive reports that further attacks are
\nbeing planned against a variety of targets ...\" and that
\nAustralians should consider departing the country.<\/p>\n
The manhunt for Azahari flopped in Central Java when police
\nambushed a blue Peugeot in Semarang on Monday, based on an SMS
\nsent from a Bandung-based cellphone number, only to find that
\nAzahari was not inside the car.<\/p>\n
Central Java Police Chief Insp. Gen. Didi Widayadi said that
\npolice had questioned the car's driver and released him for
\n\"having no evidence to link him with the fugitive\".<\/p>\n
Police have named 12 possible targets in the city: the JW
\nMarriott Hotel in South Jakarta; Citibank Landmark in Setiabudi,
\nSouth Jakarta; Citibank in Pondok Indah, South Jakarta; the
\nCaltex office in Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta; expatriate
\nresidential areas, Hero shopping center and Kem Chicks all in
\nKemang, South Jakarta; and international schools, including the
\nJakarta International School and Australian International School,
\nbased on a note found at Azahari's rented room on Jl. Kebon
\nKembang, Bandung.<\/p>\n
Some of the targets were also mentioned on a piece of paper
\nfound at a rented house on Jl. Kemuning, Pasar Minggu, South
\nJakarta, where the alleged terrorists rigged up the car bomb that
\nexploded at the Marriott's driveway.<\/p>\n
Jakarta police chief Makbul called on Jakartans to help
\nmonitor boarding houses and rented houses citywide as \"they
\n(terrorist suspects) prefer to use boarding houses as their
\nfavorite hiding places\".<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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