Security beefed up at U.S. interests in Indonesia

Security beefed up at U.S. interests in Indonesia

JAKARTA (JP): National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Didi
Widayadi said on Wednesday that police had heightened security
nationwide at all installations related to the United States to
anticipate possible attacks.

"The instruction has come from National Police chief Gen.
Surojo Bimantoro to strengthen security for American citizens and
their assets in the country," Didi said.

He said that the American Embassy, which was closed on
Wednesday and likely also on Thursday, had officially asked for
the strengthening of security last month.

"With these incidents (in New York and Washington D.C.), we
have all learned that such terrorist acts are catastrophic and we
deeply deplore what has happened," he said.

Didi also asked the public to be alert for attempts to create
unrest in the country as the operations of "international
terrorists groups have been detected in several parts of
Indonesia."

Without elaborating, Didi said police intelligence had
identified five groups operating in the country that had used
various issues to provoke unrest, such as religious and
separatist issues.

"The most recently identified is Danny's group, which bombed
Plaza Atrium in the Senen area recently," Didi said, referring to
a Malaysian, one of the blast victims, who had been named a
suspect in the incident.

Later on Wednesday, Coordinating Minister for Political and
Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Coordinating Minister
for Economy Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti, Coordinating Minister for
People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla, Minister of Defense Matori Abdul
Djalil, the Indonesian Military (TNI) Chief Adm. Widodo A.S., the
National Intelligence Agency Chief A.M. Hendropriyono and the
operation deputy to the National Police Chief Cmr. Gen. Syahrudin
ZP. held a special meeting to discuss the impact of the terrorist
attacks.

But all, except Hendro, refused to talk to the media after
attending the two-and-a-half-hour meeting.

When asked whether security would be tightened here, Hendro
said: "All countries, including Indonesia, had already been on
top alert as the U.S. had warned about the threat of
international terrorism. But who could have predicted that such
an attack would have hit the country (the U.S.) right at its
heart?"

When asked whether Megawati would cancel her visit to the
U.S., Hendro said: "We did not make that recommendation."

Meanwhile, the Jakarta International School (JIS), which has
2,300 students at three campuses -- Pattimura, Pondok Indah and
Cilandak -- suspended its activities on Wednesday, in
anticipation of terrorist attacks.

However, the North Jakarta International School (NJIS) with
210 students and owned by an American foundation in Kelapa
Gading, opened on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Cengkareng did not beef
up its airport security.

"There are no direct flights from here to New York or
Washington, therefore, there will be no particular action," Toto,
an assistant officer in charge of the airport, told The Jakarta
Post over the phone. (emf/04/tso)