5,000 police officers to secure Bali commemoration

Wahyoe Boediwardhana, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali

The police said on Wednesday they would deploy about 5,000 officers to provide security during the commemoration of the Oct. 12, 2002, Bali bombings, which is expected to be attended by foreign dignitaries, including the Australian prime minister.

Bali Police chief Insp. Gen. Made Mangku Pastika said most of the deployed officers would form a security perimeter around the "Ground Zero" on Jl. Legian in Kuta, which was the scene of the terrorist attack.

"There will be between 40 and 50 high-ranking government officials from New Zealand, Japan, Britain and Australia (attending the ceremony)," Pastika said.

He said Australian Prime Minister John Howard's entourage would include Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Downer and the Australian Federal Police chief.

However, President Megawati Soekarnoputri will not attend the ceremony.

Pastika was speaking to reporters after receiving Australian Ambassador to Indonesia David Ritchie at his office in Denpasar.

About 1,500 relatives of Australian victims of the bombings are expected to attend the commemoration. At least 83 of the 202 victims of the attack were Australians.

Howard is scheduled to arrive in Denpasar on Oct. 11. That evening he will attend a Mass and joint prayer at the Garuda Wisnu Kencana cultural park.

The names of the bombing victims will be read out during the Mass.

On the morning and afternoon of Oct. 12, Howard will participate in various events organized by the victims' families at Kuta Beach.

Approximately one hour before 11:15 p.m. local time, the time the bombs exploded one year ago, Howard, other foreign dignitaries, families of the victims and other participants will begin a silent march from Kuta Beach to Jl. Legian.

They will then scatter flowers and have a moment of silence at the site of the explosions.

Pastika said the Legian area, one of the busiest streets on the resort island, would be closed to motorists for 24 hours on Oct. 12 for security reasons.

The closure is also aimed at ensuring a solemn atmosphere for the ceremony, he added.

"Only pedestrians will be allowed to get through Jl. Legian. We will be very watchful for the possibility of somebody driving a car loaded with explosives into the street to detonate near a crowd," Pastika said.