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.