Local chiefs told to watch migrants

JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta's Deputy Governor for Administrative Affairs Abdul Kahfi on Friday instructed chiefs of community and neighborhood units (RT/RW) to closely watch migrants who had not yet registered as Jakarta residents.

Kahfi told the city's five mayors at a City Hall meeting that they should order RT/RW chiefs to closely monitor migrants.

The meeting was abruptly called after a bomb blast demolished an Acehnese dormitory in Guntur subdistrict, South Jakarta, killing two people on Thursday.

Kahfi said the RT/RW chiefs should quickly report to the their respective subdistrict chiefs if they noticed anything suspicious concerning migrants.

"The RT/RW chiefs should actively monitor their residents. Among the places that should be monitored are dormitories housing people from other provinces," he said.

He called on Jakarta residents, especially city officials, to increase their alertness so as to prevent unexpected incidents from occurring given the current uncertain political climate. The officials should also intensify their communications with the people.

Meanwhile, Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso called on Thursday night for Jakarta to stay on the alert as more terrorist acts not be ruled out.

"But people shouldn't panic as a result of this incident," he said.

He called on people to increase their awareness of suspicious persons in their neighborhoods, including watching their houses.

He was of the opinion that the blast had to involve a terrorist network.(jun)