Mega opens antiterror school in Semarang

Mega opens antiterror school in Semarang

Suherdjoko, The Jakarta Post, Semarang, Central Java

President Megawati Soekarnoputri inaugurated on Saturday an
international antiterror school here in Semarang, as part of
Asia-Pacific efforts to combat terrorist attacks.

A drill to rescue terrorist hostages highlighted the
inauguration ceremony, which was held in conjunction with the
National Police's 58th anniversary.

"This center is built to make us learn from our previous
bitter experiences in dealing with terrorism," said Gen. Da'i
Bachtiar, the chief of the National Police.

The school is part of the Jakarta Center for Law Enforcement
Cooperation (JCLEC), which was established recently following
Bali bombing two years ago that killed more than 200 people,
mostly foreign tourists. The establishment of the JCLEC is based
on an agreement between 25 foreign ministers reached during the
Asia Pacific summit meeting held on Feb. 5 this year in Bali.

Australia, which lost 88 citizens in the Bali bombings, is
contributing AUS$ 38.3 million (US$21.4 million) over five years
to the Jakarta Center for Law Enforcement Cooperation.

In his report, Da'i said that 31 police personnel and other
law enforcers from 17 countries have confirmed they will attend
classes for the first academic year in the antiterror school.
They mostly came from Asia Pacific countries -- 10 of them are
Indonesians.

They will be taught various subjects by 11 instructors from
various countries, including Australia, the United States,
Germany and Indonesia itself. Senior police officers and law
enforcers will take classes on criminal intelligence analysis,
financial investigation, bomb scene management and victim
identification, and other subjects.

Also attending the inauguration on Saturday were presidential
candidate Amien Rais, Indonesian Military chief Gen. Endriartono
Sutarto, and Australian Federal Police chief Comr. Mick Keelty.

The antiterror facilities are built on 1,000 square meters of
land located in the compound of the Police Academy in Semarang.
Among the facilities to be used for antiterrorist training are a
railway carriage, a ferry, a mock four-storey hotel and a twin-
engined jet donated by PT Merpati Airlines.

The graduates of the center are expected to contribute to the
prevention and the curbing of terrorist attacks, which are still
a clear and present danger for humankind today, according to
Da'i.

After the opening ceremony, black-clad Indonesian police
personnel exhibited their skills before Megawati and other
dignitaries in freeing hostages and killing "terrorists" in a
mock hotel and a passenger jet.