Extra security for holidays

Extra security for holidays

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Police will beef up security, particularly at churches, ahead of
the Christmas and New Year holidays amid heightened concerns of
possible terrorist attacks following the recent bombing in
Makassar, the provincial capital of South Sulawesi, which killed
three people and injured 11.

A senior police officer said Tuesday that security personnel
would cooperate with the private security guards at churches in
order to maintain peace and security during the upcoming holiday
season.

"We will reinforce the churches' internal security guards to
ensure that the celebrations are trouble-free," National Police
Deputy Spokesman Brig. Gen. Edward Aritonang told The Jakarta
Post Tuesday.

He said police would conduct security searches in churches and
other places of worship, and impose security checks for those
attending public celebrations. Personnel would also patrol the
streets to ensure security and to regulate traffic flow.

"Such security measures are part of a security operation
called Ketupat Lilin, which is in effect from the Islamic fasting
month of Ramadhan until the New Year holiday," explained
Aritonang.

He added that police were alarmed by information extracted
from suspects in the bombing of a McDonald's outlet in Makassar
last week, which implied that they were planning to launch a wave
of attacks on churches across South Sulawesi during Christmas.

"We are only anticipating possible threats to security,
although we haven't received any information on serious threats
to security from our intelligence section, but just in case...,"
Aritonang said.

Police investigators have linked the Makassar bombings to the
deadly Bali carnage on Oct. 12, which claimed more than 190 lives
and injured 300 others, mostly foreigners.

Police have named six suspects so far in the Makassar
bombings: Ansar Daeng Salam, Muchtar Daeng Lau, Usman, Masnur,
Ilham and Agung Hamid. Three of the suspects, who are believed to
be members of the local radical group Laskar Jundullah, have been
arrested and are being detained at Makassar police headquarters.

Meanwhile, Jakarta police spokesman Sr. Comr. Prasetyo said
Tuesday that Jakarta police would mobilize about 15,000
personnel, or two-thirds of its forces, to maintain security
during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

"Thus far, we haven't yet received any specific requests (from
churches), but we will take the initiative within the context of
a possible threat to security," he commented, adding that
security concerns still topped police priorities following the
latest bombing in Makassar.

Prasetyo said the Ketupat Lilin operation would end on Jan.
10, 2003.