Gelbard seeks police protection for U.S. citizens and facilities

Gelbard seeks police protection for U.S. citizens and facilities

JAKARTA (JP): U.S. ambassador to Indonesia Robert S. Gelbard
visited the National Police Headquarters on Friday to request a
security guarantee for American citizens and facilities in the
country, National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Didi Widayadi said
later in the day.

Didi confirmed that Gelbard met with National Police
secretary-general Comr. Gen. Yun Mulyana on Friday morning, as
National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro is currently on a
working visit to Budapest, Hungary.

During the meeting, Didi said Gelbard requested a security
guarantee for U.S. residents and facilities from recent threats
declared by extremist groups.

Didi said the National Police would use repressive measures
against those proved to have made threats and would implement
preventative action by tightening security on vital U.S. assets,
including the U.S. Embassy and the ambassador's official
residence.

"We don't want U.S. residents to feel insecure or that we're
not protecting them," Didi said.

On Wednesday, radical Islamic groups in Indonesia, including
the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) threatened to raid U.S.
facilities and expel American citizens if Washington attacked
Afghanistan following the terrorist attacks in New York and
Washington on Sept. 11, which have resulted in nearly 6,000
people being reported dead or missing.

FPI chairman Habib Muhammad Rizieq Syihab renewed the threats
on Thursday.

"FPI leaders are all intellectuals but I'm afraid FPI members
at the grassroots level are not. What if they meet an American on
the street and then beat and abduct him? That's what we want to
prevent by carrying out these actions," Habib said after meeting
with Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Sofjan Jacoeb, who visited
the group's headquarters in the Petamburan area of Central
Jakarta.

Asked to comment on the remark, Sofjan said he doubted that
the group would really do such things, which were against the
law.

Police said at least 500 police personnel, including
sharpshooters, had been deployed to safeguard foreign embassies
and international organizations' offices.

Earlier on the day, around 70 students grouped in the
Indonesian Muslim Students (PII) organization staged a protest
outside the U.S. Embassy.

While repeatedly chanting Allahu Akbar (God is Great), the
students also unfurled banners on which were written "Save the
Afghanistan Muslims," "UN where are you?" "Jews, actors behind
the WTC tragedy." They then continued their protest at the U.N.
building.

Following the wave of anti-U.S. protests staged by Muslim
groups in several cities throughout the country, the U.S. Embassy
has advised Americans to take security precautions. It also said
the U.S. government had information that extremist elements might
target the diplomatic mission and other U.S. interests in
Indonesia.

Others, such as the Australian Embassy, have also issued
warnings to their citizens living in Indonesia. (emf)