Jakarta tightens security at Thai interest
Ivy Susanti, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
Following the deadly protest that claimed 85 Muslims in Tak Bai in Narathiwat province in southern Thailand on Monday and a rally at the Thai Embassy in Jakarta on Thursday, the Indonesian government has taken precautionary measures by reinforcing security at the Thai Embassy and other premises, including its business interests in Jakarta.
Thailand's foreign affairs ministry made this request through Indonesia's ambassador in Bangkok, who paid a visit to the ministry personally to convey Jakarta's concern over the incident, Indonesia's foreign affairs ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa said on Friday.
He said that the government itself also took initiative in securing the Thai Embassy in Jakarta following the incident.
"After the incident, we have taken some anticipative measures. The Thai foreign ministry has also asked our government -- through our ambassador -- to beef up security on Thai premises," he said.
The Thai Embassy in Jakarta confirmed that additional police forces have been safeguarding the embassy compound in Central Jakarta and the ambassador's residence in South Jakarta since Wednesday.
"Other Thai interests, restaurants and business premises are frequently being patrolled these days," a diplomat at the embassy told The Jakarta Post on Friday.
"This is normal procedure. If there is a situation and the host country is informed, then the latter can provide us with additional security," the diplomat said.
The embassy has been advised of the possibility of demonstrations.
"We believe the number of police officers deployed is sufficient at this point. However, the number of officers depends on the day's events and the site," the diplomat said without giving the number of forces already stationed at the embassy and the ambassador's residence.
A demonstration outside the Tak Bai police station on Monday turned ugly when thousands of protesters clashed with security officials. Six people were shot to death on the site.
The protesters demanded unconditional release of six village defense volunteers who were arrested under suspicion of giving government-issued weapons to Islamic militants.
About 1,300 protesters were arrested and sent to a military camp in the neighboring province of Pattani on the same day. Seventy-eight of them died during the trip, and autopsies showed they mostly died of suffocation. The others were probably crushed and broke their necks when they were crammed into the trucks. One of the protesters died in a hospital on Tuesday, topping the number of casualties to 85.
No bullet wounds were found on the deceased bodies, but bruises and small cuts were on their faces.
This incident and the subsequent remark from Prime Minister Thaksin Sinawatra on Monday -- that the 78 people were weak because of fasting during the holy month of Ramadhan, thus disaffirming the improper handling of protesters by security officers -- has sparked anger among Muslims around the world, including in Indonesia.
The incident generated sporadic violence in southern Thailand. Thaksin recently set up a special committee to probe the matter.
Marty said that Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirayuda has called his Thai counterpart Surakiart Sathirathai on Thursday evening to express Indonesia's government concern over the violence. However, details of the phone conversation was not available.
Marty, who is also the ministry's director general for Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), also said that Indonesia would closely monitor the developments in Thailand.
"We have earlier voiced our concern and our wish that the Thai government could carry on with the investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice," he told reporters.
"Moreover, the Thai government seemed to realize that this incident has became a worldwide concern."