Airport authorities tighten security due to 'student actions'
Airport authorities tighten security due to 'student actions'
JAKARTA (JP): Security at airports in several provinces is
being tightened up following students' actions in Medan, North
Sumatra and Padang, West Sumatra.
The students' protests at Polonia airport in Medan on Nov. 14
led to damage to ground handling facilities while violence almost
erupted at Padang's Tabing airport.
On Saturday Antara reported from Padang that security at
airports under the authority of the state-owned PT Angkasa Pura
II is being beefed up for an indefinite period.
The airports were those in Sumatra, Jakarta, Bandung and West
Kalimantan, the company's director, Misful Firdaus said.
Student actions have led to considerable losses, "mainly from
the effects on the trust of the international community wanting
to come to Indonesia through these entry points," Misful was
quoted as saying.
Visitors entering through airports have declined by 50
percent, he said. "Tourists and investors would think twice
before coming here," he added, and appealed to students to stop
such actions at airports. However, the agency quoted him as
saying further that security would not be too tight.
Kompas reported Saturday that university students had conveyed
apologies to Minister of Agriculture Soleh Solahuddin, who was
reportedly almost hit by a student, through local authorities.
They had intended to hold him hostage until he agreed to talk
to them before departing to Jakarta.
They had conveyed demands to President B.J. Habibie that the
dual function of the Armed Forces should be ended. He had finally
agreed to talk to them.
In Jakarta, Sugino, an officer in charge at the Soekarno-Hatta
International Airport, denied that a number of armed vigilantes,
recently given notoriety as Pamswakarsa, were deployed at the
airport following rumors that students would stage a
demonstration there.
He said only about 50 riot personnel were deployed to guard
the airport since the Special Session of the People's
Consultative Assembly began on Nov. 10.
"There is no increase in the number of security officers. We
have enough to guard the airport," Sugino said.
He said the situation there is normal.
"Students here would never occupy a vital place like the
airport. I'm sure," he said.
Students' rallies have intensified since the beginning of the
Assembly session and continued after 15 were killed during
demonstrations on Nov. 12 and Nov. 13. The 16th shooting victim
died on Sunday. (anr/37/jun)