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)