Hotel, building operators told to improve security

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Police have warned hotel and building operators in Jakarta to improve security amid heightened concerns of terrorist attacks.

"Hotels, whether or not they are star-rated, as well as commercial complexes like malls and business centers, must improve safety standards and security systems. Otherwise, they must be ready to face disaster," National Police deputy detective chief of crime affairs, Insp. Gen. I Made Mangku Pastika told The Jakarta Post on the sidelines of a one-day workshop titled "Jakarta Hotel and Commercial Complex Security Workshop" on Monday.

Pastika, who also heads the Bali bombing investigative team, referred to the Bali attack last year which ripped through the Sari Club and Paddy's Cafe in Kuta, Bali, claiming nearly 200 lives, mostly foreign tourists.

Pastika said the threat of terrorism remained, although police had managed to capture many of the terrorist suspects who would soon be tried in court.

He further said that many hotels and commercial complexes had not yet been equipped with adequate security and safety systems to counter terrorist attacks.

"At least, they have to meet the minimum standards for required safety and security systems... Definitely, they must spend extra money for it."

Jakarta has at least 297 hotels and dozens of malls, business complexes and shopping centers. Most of the upmarket hotels and business centers usually have better security systems than their low-cost counterparts.

Pastika's statement came hot on the heels of heightened security concerns in Jakarta in the aftermath of the recent bomb attack on National Police Headquarters earlier last week -- the first-ever attack of its kind.

The low-yield device left egg on the face of the police, who have just begun to win over the public following its success in arresting prime suspects in the Bali and Makassar bombings.

An explosion which injured a farmer in Penggilingan, Cakung, East Jakarta, last weekend, and a bomb hoax against police headquarters on Sunday, have further heightened concerns regarding security.

Pastika told the participants of the workshop that police were facing difficulties in uncovering the bomb attack on headquarters.

The bombers, Pastika admitted, were very smart, as they had used a different technique to make the bomb, with minimum witnesses and evidence left for a police investigation.

"Not to be pessimistic, but we will take a longer time to uncover this bomb attack," Pastika said.

Pastika was one of the speakers of the workshop, along with Tim Dumas, one of the regional security officers assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta; Tim McNulty, regional head of corporate security firm JP Morgan; and Russel Chalon of electronic security systems maker Chubb Singapore.

The workshop was attended by more than 100 participants of the hotel and commercial complex managements.

Similarly, Tim Dumas asserted that no place was immune to terrorist attacks, recounting the threat of possible attacks on international schools, which led to a recommendation for the respective schools to close.

Dumas said that not only security personnel, but all staff members should be subject to basic safety and security training.

In regards counter-terrorism training, Dumas recalled the visit of U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell in August last year, who had given a US$50 million assistance fund to provide counter-terrorism training for police and government officials.

Preparatory tips for a possible terrorist attack:

1. Assess the building's risk to an attack, for example, criticality (the importance of the building to the operation of the business) and vulnerability to any possible means of attack.

2. Improve surveillance systems, including reevaluating video camera locations over areas like parking lots, staircases, building perimeters, elevators and entry and exit points.

3. Install emergency phone stations.

4. Provide security awareness and safety training to all staff.

Source: Papers presented by speakers of workshop, "Jakarta Hotel and Commercial Complex Security Workshop".