No sign of terrorist attacks: Da'i
Abdul Khalik, Jakarta
Police have not yet discovered any indication of possible terrorist attacks during the country's direct presidential election scheduled for July 5, National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar says.
He said on Tuesday that his officers had carefully examined intellegence reports from foreign countries and compared them with data from agencies in the country, including the military, and had arrived at the conclusion that Indonesia faced no terrorist threat.
"We have followed up on warnings from several foreign countries, which state that Indonesia will be attacked by terrorists. However, after thorough analysis by comparing all intelligence data, we don't see any threats," said Da'i.
The U.S., Canadian, Australian and British governments have warned their citizens that terrorists could attack anywhere in Indonesia during the election process and urged their citizens to leave the country if their presence was not essential.
Da'i said that despite the absence of any indication of attacks, the police would intensify their vigilance during the election campaigning period because provocation and conflict could emerge due to the heightened political tension.
Five pairs of candidates are contesting the July 5 election. They are: Wiranto and Solahuddin Wahid, Megawati Soekarnoputri and Hasyim Muzadi, Amien Rais and Siswono Yudohusodo, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Jusuf Kalla, and Hamzah Haz and Agum Gumelar.
About 150 million people are eligible to vote across the country, a vast archipelago of 17,000 islands and 220 million people still struggling to recover from the late 1990s financial crisis.
The police have been on full alert since Monday, one day before the campaign period officially started on Tuesday.
Some two-thirds of a total 274,000 police personnel are on standby, ready for any eventuality as the country enters the presidential election campaign.
Da'i said that he had also increased the number of police personnel deployed in conflict areas, such Aceh, Poso, Ambon and Papua in anticipation of possible friction during the election.
"We are ready to deploy more personnel to these conflict areas if conditions necessitate it. That's why we are retaining personnel to provide backup in these areas," said Da'i.