Police assure public of security on New Year's Eve

JAKARTA (JP): National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Saleh Saaf told the public on Saturday to go ahead with New Year's celebrations despite rumors of more bomb attacks.

"Don't be afraid, don't panic, don't be scared by bomb threats. Just enjoy your New Year's Eve," Saaf said in a telephone interview with The Jakarta Post.

He said the police, in cooperation with the military, would be on full alert.

He said that revelers should feel safe to go to any place they wanted, despite the spate of bomb blasts on Christmas Eve.

Among the rumors are that Indonesia in Miniature Park in Jakarta, better known as Taman Mini, would be a target during its New Year's Eve celebration.

"We will deploy maximum security at Taman Mini. Nothing to worry about," Saaf said.

He confirmed that as many as 110,000 policemen would be deployed throughout the country to safeguard the New Year's Eve festivities.

On Christmas Eve, bombs rocked churches in Sukabumi, West Java; Medan, North Sumatra; Pekanbaru and Batam in Riau; Mojokerto, East Java; Mataram in West Nusa Tenggara and Jakarta. A bomb also exploded at a showroom in the West Java capital of Bandung.

Seventeen people died and more than 100 were injured.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

President Abdurrahman Wahid and many political observers believe the attacks were intended to destabilize the government.

To safeguard the year-end festivities, the Jakarta Police will deploy 34,000 personnel.

City police spokesman Supt. Bahrul Alam said on Friday that New Year's Eve security would be tighter than for the Christmas and Idul Fitri holidays.

In Bandung, at least 2,000 policemen will be on duty to secure the New Year's celebrations.

Bandung Police chief Sr. Supt. Timur Pradopo said on Saturday that the number did not include Banser security guards from the Nadhlatul Ulama Muslim organization and also from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), who would assist with security.

"Places of worship will be given priority, but hotels and entertainment centers and main roads, such as Jl. Merdeka, Jl. Asia Afrika and Jl. Juanda, will also be guarded," Timur said, adding that undercover officers would be posted in certain areas in the center of the city.

Meanwhile, Surabaya Police chief Sr. Supt. Suharto said that bomb squad personnel would be among 5,000 policemen deployed to secure the city.

Strategic locations and public places, including airports, seaport, railway stations, shopping centers, places of worship and main roads will be tightly guarded, he said, adding that, "There have been no signs of irregularities so far."

He also said that his subordinates found it difficult to prohibit people from exploding firecrackers, even though they are a recognized danger.

Although the National Police have guaranteed security, many remain worried.

In Mataram, a homemade bomb was found under the bridge at Sekongkang, Batu Hijau, Sumbawa, some 150 kilometers east of Mataram, on Friday.

In Batam, people are upset because police have yet to arrest a suspect in blasts at four churches that injured 29 people.

"We are worried that violence could erupt on New Year's Eve," Batam resident Kusuma told Antara on Saturday.

Yogyakarta Police chief Brig. Gen. Logan Siagian said on Saturday that more than 4,000 policemen, or two thirds of the total force, would be available for New Year's Eve.

"We will place them at sites considered vulnerable to unrest, such as traffic lanes, churches, public places and entertainment spots including hotels and Jl. Malioboro," Siagian said in a year-end press conference in his office.

Siagian also said that he planned to assign snipers at places he considered vulnerable to attack.

Regarding the Dec. 24 blasts, Bandung Police chief Supt. Timur Pradopo said police have begun to distribute photographs of Aceng Suhari, 59, the owner of the building on Jl. Terusan Jakarta where a bomb exploded and where police believe explosive devices were being assembled.

Two key witnesses, Agus and Roni, injured in the blast on Jl. Terusan Jakarta, are being treated at the Sartika Asih Police Hospital.

Saaf said seven people were considered suspects in the Bandung incidents. (25/ylt/nur/sur/swa)