Embassies reject security offer

Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan

The offices of foreign embassies in Medan are refusing the extra security offered by the North Sumatra police in the wake of the Bali attacks, which killed at least 23 people.

Diplomats said extra security measures were unnecessary because Medan was a safe city and not prone to an attack. An increased guard would create a false impression of danger, they said.

Malaysian Consul General in Medan Mohd. Yusoff A. Bakar said on Monday that there were no signs that terrorists planned to attack foreigners there.

"People would be afraid of visiting the office if many police were seen guarding it," Yusoff said.

Instead of heavy security measures, Yusoff requested police carry out spot-check patrols near the office to ensure that the situation was safe. They should also increase their presence in known expatriate spots, like foreign company offices and universities.

More than 500 Malaysian students study in Medan, while around 1,000 Malaysians live there.

Paul S. Berg, a diplomat with the Office of the American Embassy in Medan, said there was no need to beef up security at the Embassy premises. There were about 100 Americans living in Medan, he said.

Spokesman Sr. Comr. Bambang Prihady said police respected the embassies' stance.