Security enhanced in Batam airport

BATAM, Riau: Batam authorities stepped up security at all places Vice President Hamzah Haz would visits in line with the planned demonstration demanding the formation of Riau Island province.

A score of police and military personnel were deployed at the International Hang Nadim Airport and at a four-star hotel where the vice president would spend the night.

Hamzah was here to open a seminar on the government's investment policy organized by the Association of Indonesian Economic Scholars (ISEI) here on Saturday.

Two kilometers before the airport, the local branch of the United Development Party planted hundreds of pamphlets and banners to welcome Hamzah.

Hamzah also chairs PPP.

Over the last two weeks, thousands of people staged demonstrations in Tanjungpinang, Batam and nearby islets, demanding the central government to accept their proposal for the formation of Riau Island province. The Riau provincial administration and legislature have given a thumb-down sign to the proposal. --Antara