Police to focus security on Christmas Eve
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.