Marriott reopens amid tight security

Zakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

"No, no fear. Look at our security measures. After all, it's unlikely that another bomb will strike the same place twice," said Budi, a doorman at the JW Marriott Hotel in South Jakarta.

The hotel, part of an American chain, reopened on Monday after it closed for a little over a month after the devastating car bomb that took the lives of 12 people and injured 147 others.

Located at the center of Mega Kuningan business complex, South Jakarta, the hotel reopened without any special ceremony. A few foreign and domestic guests were seen walking into the hotel from 8 a.m., undisturbed by the tight security around the hotel.

Security personnel checked each vehicle wishing to approach the hotel, even at the gates of Mega Kuningan, some distance from the Marriott.

An entire lane of the road in front of the Marriott was used to erect a tent where eight security personnel plus armed Mobile Brigade (Brimob) police troops checked vehicles.

However, vehicles were not permitted passage to the driveway to the lobby with drivers being directed to Plaza Mutiara next to the Marriott.

Guests then had to pass through another security check point, guarded by four security personnel, four Tourism Police and armed Mobile Brigade personnel, before walking about 100 meters to the hotel lobby.

Muhid, a Silver Bird taxi driver, said that after seeing the security measures he was sure that another attack would not be possible.

However, he said the measures were an overreaction and "too tight and a bit of paranoid".

He said his taxi would not need to be thoroughly checked and complained that taxi drivers felt inconvenienced because they now had to park in front of Plaza Mutiara and were facing the wrong way, which disturbed other motorists.

Marriott spokeswoman Mellani Solagratia told The Jakarta Post that the parking arrangement was permanent.

"We have coordinated with Mega Kuningan management who approved the plan," she said.

However, foreign guests seemed not to be disturbed by the security.

Eugene Flynn, an American businessman who has lived in Jakarta for 10 years, said he came to the hotel for breakfast to support the Marriott.

"The bombing was a dreadful occurrence. It's unfortunate that these security measures are necessary," he said, adding that he now felt far more comfortable and confident thanks to the security.

Governor Sutiyoso also praised the security measures when he spoke in front of the main entrance of the hotel at midday.

He said security personnel had checked his car upon entering the hotel, even though they knew that he was in the car.

"No exception. That's the way it's supposed to be," he said.

The governor, along with Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Makbul Padmanagara, were then escorted to the Marriott's Sailendra restaurant, which has been repaired since the bombing.

The restaurant, whose original capacity was around 330 seats, was operating with some 250 seats, most of which were occupied by 1 p.m.

No fear was discernible on the faces of the guests, who appeared to have forgotten the attack. Most seemed to be enjoying their business lunches. Everybody was back to business.

Mellani said that before the blast the hotel's occupancy rate was between 50 percent to 60 percent and the management was aiming to reach that rate as soon as possible.