Police to guard tourists

Police to guard tourists

BANYUMAS, Central Java: The Banyumas police office is
preparing a troop of police to be posted at the Nusakambangan
prison island which was opened as a tourists' destination last
month.

Around 50 police personnel will be stationed at the prison
island to ensure visitors' safety. Many hardcore criminals are
incarcerated at the island, a number of whom have been released
and are employed at the prison's garden and rice fields.

"Chief of the Central Java Provincial Police May. Gen. Harimas
A.S. received the order from the National Police headquarters to
prepare the troop," Chief of the Banyumas Police Col. Bambang
Munarso told The Jakarta Post over the weekend.

According to Bambang, the police will take turns making their
rounds.

Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security gen.
(ret.) Soesilo Soedarman said the government will retain the
island's function as a high security prison.

The project will have a three-year probational phase. It will
go ahead if the project is profitable and poses no threat to
security.

Several investors have expressed interests to the Cilacap's
city administration and the Ministry of Justice provincial office
to open floating restaurants around the island. (wah/14)