Security threat puts police, govt on high alert<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): In anticipation of a worsening level of security
\nin the capital, the city administration has instructed its
\npersonnel to stay on high alert and the city police have prepared
\ncontingency plans to safeguard foreign embassies.<\/p>\n
Speaking before 65 districts and 265 subdistrict heads at City
\nHall on Thursday, Governor Sutiyoso said: \"I order you to stay on
\nhigh alert around the clock.\"<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso described the security situation in the capital as
\nnormal and rejected any possibility of imposing a state of civil
\nemergency.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the city police briefed 200 representatives of 94
\nforeign countries and international organizations on Thursday
\nabout the security arrangement for the capital.<\/p>\n
City police chief Insp. Gen. Sofjan Yacob promised that his
\nforce would provide special security for embassies and diplomats
\nshould the situation in the capital deteriorate.<\/p>\n
\"Tight security measures will be taken around embassies here
\nand the residences of top embassy officials. The police have
\nprepared special strategies should the security situation take a
\nturn for the worse,\" Sofjan said.<\/p>\n
Rumors circulating in the city indicate that the city police
\nhave prepared contingency plans for foreigners, which would
\nreportedly take them to a safe area or Soekarno-Hatta
\nInternational Airport should the security situation worsen here.<\/p>\n
Sofjan refused to confirm the rumors.<\/p>\n
The security situation in the capital, especially leading up
\nto the special session of the People's Consultative Assembly, has
\nbecome a major concern for many residents, especially
\nexpatriates.<\/p>\n
A number of embassies here, however, claim that they have not
\nmade any special preparations in anticipation of a possible
\nworsening of the level of security.<\/p>\n
\"The U.S. Embassy has yet to make any special arrangements,\"
\nJohn Vance, the deputy of the press attache of the U.S. Embassy,
\ntold The Jakarta Post by phone on Thursday.<\/p>\n
He also noted that he had not heard of any discussions on it
\nat the embassy so far.<\/p>\n
The Dutch Embassy, through a third party, reportedly booked a
\nplane for Dutch nationals should violence occur during the
\nspecial session, but an officer at the embassy denied it.<\/p>\n
\"We did not book any plane so far. Where did you get the news
\nfrom?\" asked the officer, who requested anonymity.<\/p>\n
Shigea Aoyama, the director of information and culture at the
\nJapanese Embassy, said his embassy had not planned anything as of
\nyet.<\/p>\n
\"The Japanese Embassy is not a target of violence here, so we
\nhave made no plans,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sofyan told foreign diplomats to stay calm as the city police
\nwould deploy its maximum force should the security situation
\ndeteriorate before or during the special session of the People's
\nConsultative Assembly, slated to begin on Aug. 1.<\/p>\n
\"Rest assured, there will be some 42,000 security personnel,
\nboth police and military on high alert, and nearly 5,600 officers
\nstationed around the Assembly building in Senayan,\" Sofjan said.<\/p>\n
Sofjan added that about 100 marksmen had been deployed around
\nthe legislative building complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta, in
\nanticipation of the worst possible security situation.<\/p>\n
City residents, on the other hand, did not seem bothered by
\npossible security disturbances in the capital.<\/p>\n
Netty Iswargia, an employee of a private company on Jl. MH
\nThamrin, said that although violence could occur, she was not too
\nworried about it.<\/p>\n
\"I have adapted to the unpredictable situation here. If it
\ngets scary on the streets, I just won't leave home,\" she said
\nwith a laugh.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Medi, a street vendor at a bus stop on Jl.
\nSudirman, blamed the political elite for the worsening security
\nsituation in the capital.<\/p>\n
\"The political elite can do anything they want as long as they
\ndon't bother people like me,\" he said. (ylt\/jun\/04)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/security-threat-puts-police-govt-on-high-alert-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}