Police to monitor influx of Idul Fitri travelers

Police to monitor influx of Idul Fitri travelers

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

The Jakarta Police will deploy thousands of officers to several
bus and railway stations, the Soekarno-Hatta International
Airport and Tanjung Priok port to monitor incoming travelers
several days after Idul Fitri.

City Police chief of operations Sr. Comr. Komang Udayana said
on Friday that, aside from directing heavy traffic, the police
would concentrate on monitoring the arrival of newcomers to the
city.

"We are aiming at preventing criminals and terrorists from
entering the capital, taking advantage of the influx and blending
in with other passengers.

"Although it is impossible to check each passenger who enters
Jakarta, we will monitor them carefully. If we see someone or
something suspicious then we will check the passenger and his
luggage," Komang told The Jakarta Post.

He said the police would conduct spot checks of passengers'
luggage to look for sharp weapons and guns in all bus and railway
stations across the city.

Komang predicted the influx of travelers would begin on Sunday
and would peak by the end of next week.

The Idul Fitri holiday, which marks the end of the fasting
month, fell on Nov. 3 and Nov. 4. Some 2.5 million Jakarta
residents were expected to leave for their hometowns to celebrate
the festivities there. It was estimated that some 250,000
newcomers would come to Jakarta this year.

Police remain on full alert after the Oct. 1 suicide bomb
attacks destroyed two cafes and a restaurant in Jimbaran and Kuta
in Bali, killing 23 people and injuring more than 130 others.

"We will be on full alert for at least seven days after Idul
Fitri. We aim to concentrate our resources on securing the
exodus, celebration and influx periods," Komang said.

With full alert, the city police ready around 17,000 personnel
to secure the capital, some 13,000 of whom are deployed to secure
holiday travelers. They also stepped up security in certain
places after Detachment 88, the police's special antiterror
squad, said there was a high possibility of bomb attacks during
Idul Fitri.

Although on full alert, no extra security efforts were
observed on Thursday and Friday at embassies, office buildings or
malls.

Only two or three police officers were seen guarding
each of the embassies in the Mega Kuningan office complex in
South Jakarta on Thursday and Friday, while normal security
measures -- with only one or two police officers on guard -- were
also seen in several malls.

However, more police officers were seen at the J.W. Marriott
Hotel and the Ritz-Carlton in Mega Kuningan on Thursday and
Friday. Dozens of police officers with guns ready in their hands
were seen guarding both hotels.

"Although it looks like we are deploying less personnel,
dozens of detectives are monitoring embassies, malls and hotels,"
Komang said.