Police on high alert ahead of Independence Day
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja The Jakarta Post Jakarta
The National Police are beefing up security in major cities across the country to prevent possible terror attacks during the Independence Day celebrations on Aug. 17.
National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said he had ordered the deployment of reinforcement officers to secure public places during the celebrations.
"We have to anticipate attacks, although we cannot specifically identify where and when terror strikes might take place," he said after attending a ceremony at the State Palace on Thursday.
"What's clear is we have already anticipated that but we aren't talking about a specific date or place," Da'i said, in response to an unusually specific warning from Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer.
Indonesia has been in high alert since the JW Marriott Hotel bombing in Jakarta last week, which killed 12 people and injured around 150 others.
Da'i did not say how many police officers would be deployed ahead of the celebrations, but M16-carrying officers are easy to spot around the capital.
The armed officers have been providing support to security guards at hotels, shopping malls and other public places since last weekend.
At the State Palace, where the main Independence Day celebration will take place on Sunday, soldiers have tightened security measures. All vehicles, including cars carrying Cabinet ministers, are thoroughly checked before being allowed to enter the palace.
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer warned on Thursday of the possibility of terrorist attacks in Jakarta during the Independence Day celebrations.
"I am very concerned specifically about Jakarta. The 17th is Indonesia's national day so it's a day where this sort of thing could happen," Downer told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio.
Downer said Australian intelligence indicated more attacks were being planned in Indonesia, and that a strike could occur this Sunday.
The Australian foreign ministry said that it continued "to receive reports that further attacks are being planned against so-called soft targets, including international hotels, shopping centers or identifiably Western businesses".
Warnings from foreign governments such as Australia, New Zealand and the United States regarding possible further attacks were issued following the Marriott bombing.
Australia this week issued its strongest travel warning yet about Indonesia, urging its citizens to avoid all unnecessary trips and to avoid international hotels in Jakarta.
The U.S. Embassy in Jakarta advised its nationals on Wednesday "to take special precautions regarding their personal security and avoid large gatherings" on the weekend.
Da'i has also warned of further possible attacks following a crackdown against the Jamaah Islamiyah terrorist network, which the police have blamed for last year's Bali bombings and the Marriott attack.
He said the recent death sentence given to one of the perpetrators of the Bali bombings and the ongoing trial of other suspects could trigger retaliatory attacks.
Meanwhile, weeping relatives of those killed expressed a mixture of bewilderment and bitterness at a press conference.
"Whoever did it are Muslim people who have no idea about the real conditions of their own people and they have no humanity at all," said Neris, 23, whose taxi driver uncle Syamsuddin was killed.
"It is the Muslim people who are now suffering because of the bombing," she said as quoted by AFP.
"May he be tortured so he can feel the pain of the burning wounds my husband suffered," said Muzainah, 42, who has four children. Her husband was a hotel security guard.
"Hopefully the bomber will get the heaviest punishment," Muzainah said. "He should not be shot because it would be too easy and less painful. He has to suffer first."