Police ready to anticipate possible riots
Police ready to anticipate possible riots
JAKARTA (JP): City police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said
yesterday that police had been deployed throughout the city to
prevent unrest following the government's closure of 16 ailing
private banks.
"There isn't any special squad or operation. Police patrols
around business areas will be held as usual. But, yes, we will be
more alert to anticipate any possible commotion caused by the
bank closure announcement," he said.
The government announced Saturday the closure of 16 banks as
part of the International Monetary Fund's reform package.
The 16 banks include Bank Harapan Sentosa, Sejahtera Bank
Umum, Bank Andromeda, Bank Pacific, Bank Astria Raya, Bank Guna
International and Bank Dwipa Semesta.
Thousands of disgruntled customers are expected to flock to
the banks' offices today to get their money back.
Aritonang said police officers would be ready to maintain
order at each bank branch to ensure all customers were given an
opportunity to retrieve their money.
He refused to disclose the number of officers assigned to
secure the banks across the city.
An intelligence officer from the Army's special force
(Kopassus) said officers would be deployed to back up today's
security program. Kopassus officers would be posted at some areas
in Greater Jakarta, he said without providing further details.
He said the servicemen would be operating undercover.
"We'll just monitor the situation but we're always ready to
back up the police and the Army."
The presence of more security guards and police officers at
several banks, especially Bank Harapan Sentosa in Harmoni,
Central Jakarta, yesterday, indicated that both the bank and the
police have made preparations to cope with today's rush.
Several "no entry" notices have been placed at the bank's main
entrance, while a team of police officers from the Central
Jakarta and Gambir police precincts were stationed in front of
the bank.
An officer, who did not want to be named, said yesterday the
team were deployed after Saturday's announcement.
However, he refused to divulge the number of personnel
involved.
He said it was believed that the bank's executives had held a
meeting at the bank from 2 p.m. yesterday.
Some customers came to the bank yesterday to convince
themselves that it had really been closed down by the government.
Several bank employees also came to their office for the
latest information regarding their future employment.
An employee of Bank Harapan Sentosa's East Jakarta branch,
Tuti, said that she would accept the final outcome, even if meant
she was jobless.
One of the bank's customers, Rudi of Pancoran, South Jakarta,
said Bank Harapan Sentosa's closure was quite unbelievable.
"I am surprised because the bank seemed to be very strong as
was indicated by their modern offices and their quick service,"
he said. (04/cst)