Police out in full force for New Year's Eve

National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said the police would remain on full alert to prevent any violence during the New Year's Eve celebrations.

"All regional headquarters have carried out security operations approaching the New Year's holiday. The operations are part of the same package as the earlier Idul Fitri and Christmas holidays," he said on Monday during a press conference.

"God willing, the holiday will be as safe as Idul Fitri and Christmas," he said.

The police have deployed 200,000 of the force's 300,000 total officers to guard mosques, churches, shopping and entertainment centers, as well as other public facilities, with backup from the military.

Most of the regional headquarters are now equipped with bomb detectors and bomb-defusing devices, Da'i Bachtiar said.

The police chief will be in Bali to accompany President Megawati Soekarnoputri, who arrived on the island on Monday evening ahead of a massive festival planned for New Year's Eve titled "Bali for the World".

Megawati will attend the festival, which will be held near the scene of the October bombings that killed over 190 people, mostly foreigners.

Megawati is scheduled to join in on a musical performance titled Kembalikan Baliku (Return My Bali), named after a song written by her youngest brother Guruh Soekarnoputra, before banging a gong on Kuta Beach to welcome the new year. -- JP