Regions step up security to prevent attacks

Regions step up security to prevent attacks

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Regional administrations throughout Indonesia moved on Wednesday
to step up security as part of a nationwide effort to prevent
further terrorist attacks following last week's tragedy on the
resort island of Bali.

The Bali bombings, the worst in Indonesia's history, have
justified international claims that terrorists are at large in
the country of more than 200 million people.

The West Java administration decided on Wednesday to mobilize
security tools to detect and counter terrorist threats in the
province. The decision was made during a coordinating meeting
between local government, legislative, military and police
leaders.

"Security improvements are perpetual in nature. Apart from
mobilizing all intelligence and detective forces, we are also
carrying out wide-ranging searches in strategic locations such as
shopping centers," Bandung Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Irwanto
said as quoted by Antara.

Adj. Sr. Comr. Eko Hadi Sutedjo, police chief in Indramayu in
West Java, told The Jakarta Post that Mobile Brigade and Army
personnel had been sent to guard assets belonging to state-owned
oil company Pertamina in Balongan and protect its foreign
employees.

Balongan oil refinery is deemed vital as its supplies fuel for
Greater Jakarta, West Java and part of Central Java.

Meanwhile, the central government said it was increasing
security for domestic transportation following the bomb attack on
Bali.

Umar Rusdy, secretary-general of the transportation and
telecommunications ministry, said the tightened security would
involve military and police personnel and target a number of
vulnerable spots like bus terminals, railway stations and
seaports.

In the country's most densely populated province of East Java,
the authorities ordered people to intensify neighborhood night
patrols, known by their Indonesian acronym, siskamling.

"At least security at night must be increased and if threats
of danger are detected, they must be reported quickly to police,"
Rear Adm. I.W.R Argawa, chief of the Navy's Eastern Fleet, told a
gathering of the Maritime Family Association (Ikmas) in Surabaya.

Riau Police chief Brig. Gen. Jonny Yodjana has also urged
tightened security for mining and tourist sites in the province.

"We have ordered the owners of entertainment places to close
their businesses at a fixed time. We will close them down and
revoke their business licenses should they defy the rules," he
said.

Security has also been beefed up at vital national assets,
such as PT Caltex Pacific Indonesia, PT Indah Kiat Pulp and Paper
(IKPP), and Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (RAPP), Riau Governor
Saleh Djasit said.

In Samarinda, the East Kalimantan administration held a
meeting with 13 mayors and regents to arrange precautionary
security measures against possible bomb attacks on vital assets
there, including mining and energy companies.

The meeting also discussed increased security in border areas
between the province and Malaysia's Sarawak and Sabah states.

"The surveillance at Sepinggan airport and Semayang Port in
Balikpapan, and Nunukan harbor is being tightened. Each foreigner
has to allow himself or herself to be examined by security
personnel," said Syaiful Teteng, secretary of the East Kalimantan
administration.

The West Nusa Tenggara Police pledged to protect all people in
the region, including visiting foreigners.

"The police here have increased security at various vital and
strategic places such as Selaparang Airport in Mataram and Lembar
harbor in West Lombok," said Sr. Comr. Siswanto, head of the
people's guidance directorate at the provincial police.

Head of the Padang immigration office in West Sumatra Amiroel
issued an order to optimize efforts to supervise any foreigners
entering the province in cooperation with local security
authorities.

In Jambi, the local police said they were improving security
to guard state-owned and private assets, and foreign investors
there.

Provincial police chief Brig. Gen. Mudjianto said that in
providing increased security, he had ordered district police
chiefs to optimize coordination with local companies and foreign
investors.

A similar move was also made in East Nusa Tenggara, where the
provincial police said they would launch raids on foreigners for
examination aimed at preventing the unpredictable.

"The Bali tragedy has disrupted security and order across
Indonesia and we have improved the level of alertness in East
Nusa Tenggara," Brig. Gen. Jacki Uly, chief of the province's
police, told Antara.

He said that with the increased alertness, the police would
improve intelligence operations at a number of vital sites.