Security beefed up prior to festival

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