No sign of terrorist attacks: Da'i
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.