Security forces deployed in capital to assure public
Security forces deployed in capital to assure public
JAKARTA (JP): The heavy presence of security forces at many
shopping centers, office buildings and on the streets yesterday
was a deliberate attempt to assure people that the capital is
safe, officials said.
"What you see today on the streets is part of Sispamkota,"
Jakarta Police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman told reporters
in the evening, referring to a joint security system for the
capital.
"Actually it's normal. We are officers who have to be ready
anywhere, anytime.
"The system was launched together with the Jakarta Military
Command and other related institutions. Our priority is to secure
Jakarta," Noegroho added.
Since early yesterday morning, several main streets, parks,
banks, offices and malls in the city have been guarded heavily by
military squads and police officers.
Fully armed and attired in their respective uniforms, the
forces and their trucks, cars and motorcycles have been deployed
at several intersections and buildings.
Among the locations guarded tightly yesterday were the popular
Blok M shopping area, several upmarket residential complexes in
Kebayoran Baru, the Semanggi cloverleaf, all in South Jakarta;
Hotel Indonesia traffic circle, National Monument park and its
surroundings in Central Jakarta; buildings and shopping centers
on Jl. Gajah Mada, Jl. Hayam Wuruk, Jl. S. Parman in West
Jakarta; and shopping areas in Kelapa Gading in North Jakarta.
According to Jakarta Military Command spokesman Lt. Col. D.J.
Nachrowi, the joint patrol involved 200 personnel from his
command, Jakarta Police, the Army's Strategic Reserves Command
(Kostrad), the marines and the Army's special force (Kopassus).
"The troops will be deployed as long as the people need their
presence," Nachrowi told The Jakarta Post.
He said the personnel would be moved from one place to
another, depending upon people's needs.
Asked why the troops were heavily armed, Nachrowi said: "If
they were not armed and not in uniform, people would not believe
that Jakarta is safe."
He urged the public not to be adverse to the security forces'
presence.
"Come on. We just want to show that there's no riot and all
the streets are safe," Nachrowi said.
He insisted that the presence of the joint forces had nothing
to do with a ceremony held by Trisakti University to mark the
40th day of the May 12 shooting incident in which four student
died.
According to Jakarta Military Police Commander Col. Hendardji,
the troops deployed were part of routine security.
"It is common for us to prepare the officers by doing some
training in a bid to be ready to face any challenge. The same
thing goes today," Hendardji told the Post.
Like all security forces officers, they were assigned to
protect and guard society.
"Thus, it's normal if we give extra attention to security
matters. Please do not make such a big fuss out of it.
"After all, we want things to be better for everyone, and
aren't they?" he added. (edt/ivy)