90,000 guards to help police

90,000 guards to help police

JAKARTA: The Jakarta Police are training at least 90,000 community security guards, preparing police personnel in each subdistrict and making available all equipment needed to provide security for the 2004 general election in Greater Jakarta.

"We are cooperating with the General Elections Commission (KPU) and the city administration to enlist and train civilians to help us secure the upcoming elections. Each polling booth will be assisted by at least two community guards," said the city police chief, Insp. Gen. Makbul Padmanagara, on Wednesday.

City police spokesman, Sr. Comr. Prasetyo, explained that there would be 44,792 polling booths in the capital alone and they would be guarded by around 90,000 guards.

Makbul said that the National Police and the city administration would finance the training while KPU would pay the guards' salary.

"There will be 2,970 areas, each area comprising several polling booths, in Jakarta with 11,499 policemen to patrol these areas," he said.

Police have also prepared operational and transportation equipment for the elections including batons, shields and fire extinguishers as well as helicopters and other vehicles. -- JP