Police assure expats of security

Police assure expats of security

Jupriadi, The Jakarta Post, Makassar

South Sulawesi authorities have stepped up security to protect
the Japanese consulate general and expatriates in Makassar, amid
the mounting anti-U.S. sentiment in the province.

Insp. Gen. Firman Gani, chief of the South Sulawesi Provincial
Police, said in Makassar on Wednesday that he had instructed
security personnel from the provincial police to tighten security
at the Japanese consulate general and provide protection for all
expatriates, including Japanese citizens, in the province.

"I have ordered police personnel to take stern actions against
anarchic demonstrations or those who intimidate foreigners and
damage their assets," he said after making a visit to the
Japanese consulate general.

Firman explained that five companies of police personnel would
be deployed to maintain security in the Japanese consulate
general and dozens of others would be stationed in McDonald's and
Kentucky Fried Chicken outlets in several malls in the city.

"We will protect not only Japanese citizens but all foreigners
and their assets, and shops offering products with American
linked brand names," he said.

He appealed to foreign embassies not to evacuate their
respective countries' citizens in the province because their
safety was guaranteed.

"The security of all expatriates, including Japanese citizens,
is guaranteed," he said, adding there were between 300 and 400
expatriates living in the city.

Governor Z.B. Palaguna and Firman made separate apologies to
the Japanese government in relation to the violent anti-U.S.
demonstration at the Japanese consulate general on Tuesday, with
a pledge that the security of the consulate general and of
foreigners would be under tight protection.

"I have given a promise that the police will guarantee the
security of the Japanese consulate general. All expatriates
should not fear because we will protect them," Palaguna said
after receiving Japanese Consul General Yamashita Katsuo at his
residence.

Hundreds of students and Muslim organizations staged a massive
demonstration near the consulate general to protest the United
States' military strikes. The demonstration turned violent when
several protesters pelted stones at the consulate building and
forced the consulate's staff to lower the Japanese flag and
burned the American flag.

In his meeting with Firman, Yamashita clarified the decision
to lower the Japanese flag during the massive anti-U.S.
demonstration near the consulate general, which proceeded in the
absence of security personnel on Tuesday.

"We were forced to meet protesters' demands to lower the flag
out of fears of fresh anarchic actions, because there were no
security personnel stationed on guard around the consulate
general.

"And it was not our desire to lower our flag. We had no choice
but to meet protesters' demands. The situation developed rapidly
as protesters committed anarchic actions inside the diplomatic
office," he said

Yamashita warned that all 133 Japanese citizens in the
province would be evacuated to other countries or sent back to
their home country unless the police were able to protect
foreigners in the province.

"We will evacuate all our citizens unless local authorities
give a security guarantee to expatriates," he said.

Meanwhile, anti-U.S. demonstration continued under tight
security near the Japanese consulate general on Wednesday but
protesters, mostly students, were barred from coming close to the
building.