Security tightened for Idul Fitri<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto and Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Jakarta authorities on Monday said they would station bomb squads
\nat 18 locations across the city to ensure that peace and order
\nreigned during the Idul Fitri celebrations.<\/p>\n
\"Bomb squads from Detachment 88 will be stationed at 18
\nlocations, where the exodus is centered; at airports, bus
\nterminals, seaports, and railway stations to anticipate possible
\nbombing attacks,\" Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani
\nsaid at City Hall on the sidelines of a Jakarta authorities
\nmeeting to discuss security arrangements during the Idul Fitri
\nholiday.<\/p>\n
Idul Fitri ends the fasting month and falls on Nov. 3 and 4.
\nSome 2.5 million Jakarta residents are expected to leave for
\ntheir hometowns to celebrate the festivities there.<\/p>\n
Firman said the heightened security measures were to
\nanticipate possible terror attacks during Idul Fitri following
\nthe Oct. 1 Bali bombings that killed at least 23 and injured
\nnearly 200 others.<\/p>\n
\"We have received information from Detachment 88 that there is
\na high possibility of bomb attacks here during the Idul Fitri
\ncelebrations,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Firman stressed, however, that these attacks were not the only
\nsecurity concerns.<\/p>\n
\"In addition to those 18 locations, we have also established
\n124 command posts across the city, which we have identified as
\nareas prone to crime,\" said Firman, adding that city police would
\ndeploy some 17,000 officers, or two-third of the total force
\nthere.<\/p>\n
Governor Sutiyoso said soldiers from the Jakarta Command and
\ncity administration officials would help back up police to secure
\nthe capital.<\/p>\n
\"We will intensify patrols at public places, places of
\nworship, public facilities and residential estates,\" said
\nSutiyoso, who is also the head of the Jakarta Authority, which
\ninclude police, the military, prosecutors's office officials and
\nthe city council.<\/p>\n
He also said the Jakarta Transportation Agency had anticipated
\nthe surge of people leaving the city, which is expected to peak
\nthree days before the Idul Fitri holiday.<\/p>\n
\"Should the flow of people leaving exceed the capacity of the
\nexisting transportation armada, we have prepared back-up fleets,
\nincluding city buses and military trucks, to transport the
\nholidaymakers,\" he asserted.<\/p>\n
The administration warned residents to remain vigilant about
\npossible thefts targeting vacant homes and fires.<\/p>\n
The City Transportation Agency, City Public Order Officers,
\nCity Fire Department and City Health Agency would also mobilize
\nofficers to serve the public.<\/p>\n
Fire Department head Johnny Pangaribuan said that all 2,500
\nfirefighters would be on call during the holiday to anticipate
\nfires.<\/p>\n
Public Order Agency head Haryanto Bajuri said that all 6,000
\nofficers in his agency would remain in the city during the
\nholiday, with about half of the force, or 3,000, assigned to help
\nthe police.<\/p>\n
\"The rest of 3,000 officers will carry out routine jobs, like
\nclearing river banks of illegal squatters and sidewalks of
\nmakeshift stalls belonging to street vendors,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/security-tightened-for-idul-fitri-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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