Security enhanced in Batam airport

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