Indonesian police take French security lessons

Indonesian police take French security lessons

Agence France-Presse, Megamendung, West Jakarta

Fighting off an ambush by terrorists and dislodging overzealous handshakes were among lessons learned by an Indonesian VIP guard squad who graduated Monday from training by French police.

The team of 32 police officers was the first to complete an intensive course organized by French experts that will help them protect officials from threats including extremists blamed for a series of attacks in Indonesia.

Organized as part of a French-Indonesian cooperation deal, the training at Megamendung near Jakarta also offered tips on how to disarm attackers and how to safely smash a route through Jakarta's notorious traffic jams.

"They have progressed very quickly to the required standard," said Alain Babonneay, of the French interior ministry's VIP protection squad, which was involved in the training.

The French assistance is part of a raft of foreign help for Indonesia's corruption-blighted police force after serious gaps were exposed in its abilities in the wake of the October 2002 Bali bombings.

The presence of a network of Islamic extremists was recognized as a serious threat to visiting foreign ministers and senior officials, requiring its police to learn new skills.