Nation battens down over Aug. 17 threats
Nation battens down over Aug. 17 threats
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The National Police are beefing up security in major cities
across the country to prevent possible terror attacks during the
Independence Day celebrations on Aug. 17.
National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said he had ordered
the deployment of reinforcement officers to secure public places
during the celebrations.
"We have to anticipate attacks, although we cannot
specifically identify where and when terror strikes might take
place," he said after attending a ceremony at the State Palace on
Thursday.
Indonesia has been in high alert since the JW Marriott Hotel
bombing in Jakarta last week, which killed 12 people and injured
more than 100 others.
Da'i did not say how many police officers would be deployed
ahead of the celebrations, but M16-carrying officers are easy to
spot around the capital.
The armed officers have been providing support to security
guards at hotels, shopping malls and other public places since
last weekend.
At the State Palace, where the main Independence Day
celebration will take place on Sunday, soldiers have tightened
security measures. All vehicles, including cars carrying
ministers, are thoroughly checked before being allowed to enter
the palace.
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer warned on
Thursday of the possibility of terrorist attacks in Jakarta
during the Independence Day celebrations.
"I am very concerned specifically about Jakarta. The 17th is
Indonesia's national day so it's a day where this sort of thing
could happen," Downer told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio.
Downer said Australian intelligence indicated more attacks
were being planned in Indonesia, and that a strike could occur
this Sunday.
The Australian foreign ministry repeated its warning that it
continued "to receive reports that further attacks are being
planned against so-called soft targets, including international
hotels, shopping centers or identifiably Western businesses".
Indonesia has been on high alert since the JW Marriott Hotel
bombing in Jakarta last week, which killed 12 people and injured
more than 100 others.
The Australian foreign ministry repeated its warning this
week, saying it continued "to receive reports that further
attacks are being planned against so-called soft targets,
including international hotels, shopping centers or identifiably
Western businesses."
Indonesia has been hit by two major bombings in less than a
year.
The Marriott blasts on Aug. 5 killed 12 people and injured
nearly 150. Two bombs that ripped through a nightclub district on
the Indonesian resort island of Bali on Oct. 12 killed 202
people, including 88 Australians.
Both attacks have been blamed on the regional al-Qaida linked
terror group Jamaah Islamiyah.
Warnings from foreign governments such as Australia, New
Zealand and the United States regarding possible further attacks
were issued following the Marriott bombing.
The U.S. Embassy in Jakarta advised its nationals on Wednesday
"to take special precautions regarding their personal security
and avoid large gatherings" on the weekend.
Da'i has also warned of further possible attacks following a
crackdown against the Jamaah Islamiyah terrorist network, which
the police have blamed for last year's Bali bombing and the
Marriott attack.
He said the recent death sentence given to one of the
perpetrators of the Bali bombings and the ongoing trial of other
suspects could trigger retaliatory attacks.
Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso has proposed that the Indonesian
Military deploy troops around the capital ahead of the national
day celebrations.