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.