Makassar police beef up security in recollection of 2002 blasts
Makassar police beef up security in recollection of 2002 blasts
Andi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post, Makassar, South Sulawesi
South Sulawesi provincial police will beef up security in the
capital Makassar and regional areas ahead of the Idul Fitri
holiday, as two bomb attacks here on the eve of the Islamic
holiday last year are still fresh in the minds of many.
Sr. Comr. A. Nurman Tahir, spokesman of the South Sulawesi
provincial police, told reporters on Saturday that security
measures would be tightened in the capital, in order to prevent a
repeat of last year's attacks.
"Under operation Ketupat Liput 2003 (or code name ketupat,
referring to the special rice cakes eaten at Idul Fitri) we will
increase police personnel in the areas up to 20 percent from last
year's holiday. Military and other related forces will assist
us," Nurman said.
Under the operation a total of 4500 personnel will be deployed
-- 3500 from the police, 500 from the military, and another 500
from paramedic units and from the Land Transportation Agency.
Most personnel will be deployed in the capital, while others
will be deployed in regional areas.
The Ketupat Liput operation will run for two weeks, from Nov.
18 to Dec. 2, or seven days before and after Idul Fitri.
Last year's attacks ripped through a McDonald's fast-food
restaurant and a car showroom, owned by Coordinating Minister for
People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla.
Three people were killed, while fifteen others were injured in
the two explosions.
Nurman warned that further attacks were a possibility as the
perpetrators of last year's bombings were still at large.
But, Nurman told people not to be afraid, as police personnel
had identified crime spots and other areas likely to be targeted
by terrorists.
Among the 131 crime spots he acknowledged were the Trans
Sulawesi road, shopping malls, restaurants, religious sites and
tourist resorts.
Nurman declined to specify which areas he thought likely to be
targeted by terrorists. However, he promised that the police
would deploy bomb squads in these areas and keep suspicious
individuals out.
He was quick to add that 200 police personnel will be on 24-
hour standby at the police headquarters in the capital during the
operation.
The Idul Fitri holiday will fall on Nov. 25 and Nov. 26.