Security beefed up prior to festival

BANDA ACEH, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam: The Aceh provincial police has deployed over 1,000 personnel to secure the week-long cultural festival here, which will be opened on Thursday by President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Ahead of the festival, the police have heightened security measures such as ID card and vehicle registration checks on several access roads to Iskandar Muda Airport. Patrols have also been increased in the conflict areas of Tiro, Pidie, North Aceh and East Aceh.

"Heightened security measures are needed to anticipate security threats during the event, particularly infiltration by separatist rebels," Aceh Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Said Hoesainy said on Saturday.

Other provinces in the region will take part in the festival, scheduled to coincide with Independence Day. -- Antara