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)