Police seek Rp 6 billion for special session

Police seek Rp 6 billion for special session

JAKARTA (JP): City police chief Insp. Gen. Sofjan Yacob said
on Monday his force needed an additional Rp 6 billion
(US$530,973) to put in place an "all-out" security plan ahead of
the People's Consultative Assembly special session.

Sofjan said the funds already provided by the city
administration would not be enough to cover the costs of securing
the session.

The National Police Headquarters will soon submit a formal
request for additional funding.

"An all-out security plan requires at least 25,000 security
personnel ... this is not counting police informants, to be put
on full alert, and for that they need food for the day, afternoon
and night, as well as money. There's just so much to do and so
little time," Sofjan said on Monday.

"We will also be needing additional informants."

Sofjan made the statements following a meeting on security
issues with top officials, including Jakarta Military Commander
Maj. Gen. Bibit Waluyo and Governor Sutiyoso, at Jakarta Police
Headquarters.

Sofjan added that at least 100 snipers would be deployed in
riot-prone areas across the capital, particularly around the area
of the Assembly building in Senayan, Central Jakarta.

"And proper strategic plans needs to be drawn up by the city
police, East Java Police, West Java Police, Lampung Police and
Central Java Police, in order to prevent people from flooding
into the capital," Sofjan said.

He added that daily sweeps for weapons would be conducted
across the capital prior to the special session, and that the
police would be keeping a close watch on certain non-governmental
organizations suspected of organizing mass protests. (ylt)