ASEAN security now at ease

Policemen in charge of securing the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) during this week's ASEAN summit were able to sigh with relief on Friday evening as the ASEAN Regional Forum ended.

On duty from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. since last Friday, they will return to their normal routines on Saturday.

"We are happy, because we were able to carry out our duties well," a police officer said.

However, he expressed some disgruntlement about U.S. security officers during the two-day visit of U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell.

"Hours before his (Powell's) arrival, their officers rushed here to secure this complex and positioned snipers in every corner," the officer said.

"It's as if they didn't trust us at all," said the officer. -- JP