Police deploy over 120,000 personnel to secure Idul Fitri
Police deploy over 120,000 personnel to secure Idul Fitri
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The National Police will deploy 124,635 personnel nationwide to
provide security for the millions of people expected to be
traveling home for the Idul Fitri holiday.
Over 82,000 of the officers will be deployed in seven
provinces -- Lampung (3,915 personnel), West Java (15,096),
Jakarta (15,026), Central Java (16,209), East Java (19,952),
Yogyakarta (5,284) and Bali (6,800).
The remaining 42,352 officers will be deployed across the
country.
The Ministry of Communications has estimated that 18.8 million
people across the country will return to their hometowns for Idul
Fitri, which falls on Nov. 25 and Nov. 26. That would mean one
police officer for every 150 travelers.
National Police Supervisory Security Agency chief Com. Gen.
Adang Daradjatun said on Tuesday the code name for the security
operation was Operasi Ketupat (Operation Rice Cake).
Major roads along Java and Sumatra will be divided into
segments, with each segment given a police guard.
"Although the operation is being launched during the holiday
exodus, that does not mean officers will only be protecting the
holiday travelers only. Residential neighborhoods and strategic
locations will also be given full attention," said Adang.
He said that during the holiday travel season, many places in
big cities, especially Jakarta, would be left relatively empty.
In response, police will step up their neighborhood patrols
during the holiday.
"Jakarta Police have anticipated this phenomena. They have
prepared enough personnel to secure the neighborhoods in
Jakarta," said Adang.
The police will also secure strategic locations such as
airports, seaports and foreign embassies to prevent terrorist
attacks, he said.
National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar, while checking
security preparations along Java's northern coast, stressed on
Tuesday the importance of cooperation with other government
agencies.
West Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Dadang Garnida said on
Tuesday he had already deployed his officers throughout the
province. The police officers will be assisted by 3,018 personnel
from the Indonesian Military.
Dadang said there were 13 critical points in West Java in
terms of traffic jams and crime.
These points, he said, were being adequately guarded by police
personnel.