Police to focus security on Christmas Eve
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Security measures to prevent any bomb attacks on Christmas eve will top the Jakarta Police's priority to safeguard the capital during the upcoming holidays, says chief Insp. Gen. Makbul Padmanagara.
Makbul alluded on Tuesday to possible bomb attacks considering that many suspects in the bombing of the JW Marriott Hotel in South Jakarta on Aug. 5 and the series of bombings in Bali on Oct. 12 last year, were still at large.
Police are still hunting for Malaysians Dr. Azahari and Noordin M. Top, who are believed to be the masterminds of the two devastating bomb attacks and in still in Indonesia. The Marriott bombing claimed 12 lives and injured 147 while the Bali bombings killed 202 people, mostly tourists. Police believe that the terrorist network Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) was behind both attacks.
Makbul also claimed there was a possibility that Free Aceh Movement (GAM) might launch an attack in the capital amid intensive military action against the separatists in Aceh province.
JI and to some extent GAM, have both been blamed by authorities here for several bombings in the city since 1999.
The capital has seen six bombings this year. During the past five years, 63 bombings took place in the city, claiming 33 lives and wounding 304.
Makbul said that the police had launched an operation to target illegal possession of explosives ahead of the festivities.
"I have made a final evaluation of our preparation today... All personnel have been stationed at 600 points in the city," he said.
Churches, recreational centers and public places like Ancol in North Jakarta and Taman Mini in East Jakarta, will be the top priorities as they will host a huge number of holidaymakers.
Police have deployed more than 12,200 personnel, or half of their full force of 23,000, to uphold security during the holidays under the Lilin Jaya 2003 operation that will last until Jan. 7.
Makbul said military personnel, city public order officers and officers from the fire brigade would also help guard the celebrations.
City Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Prasetyo also said last Thursday that police would also take stern measures against motorists who violated traffic rules during the festivals.
"Riding in open trucks and on bus rooftops during New Year's parades can be very risky," Prasetyo said.
He said the police were also anticipating the possibility that many political parties in the 2004 General Elections, may misuse the festivities to start campaigning.
"We will record the violations (relating to the general elections) and report them to Elections Supervision Committee (Panwaslu)," said Prasetyo.