Sutiyoso and Edi to hold talks with city police chief
Sutiyoso and Edi to hold talks with city police chief
JAKARTA (JP): Due to the worsening security condition in the
capital, Governor Sutiyoso and City Council speaker Edi Waluyo
have agreed to soon hold a meeting with the Jakarta Police to
further discuss ways to improve overall security.
Speaking separately to reporters on Tuesday, both Sutiyoso and
Edi said they had sent an official invitation to Jakarta Police
chief Insp. Gen. Nurfaizi for the meeting, but it has been
abruptly canceled following the dismissal of Nurfaizi's superior,
National Police chief Gen. Rusdihardjo.
The date for the next meeting has yet to be set but it is
expected to be held soon.
According to Sutiyoso, the city police should not only
investigate the series of bomb attacks in Jakarta but also
establish a comprehensive security system involving all parties,
such as the general public and the military's intelligence
officers.
He added that people currently lack trust in the security
officers in Jakarta.
"I really hope the city police would have better coordination
(with the city administration and other related parties) because
the public has become very concerned.
"Even my official residence has been further secured with
three more city military command personnel," said the retired
three-star Army general.
Sharing Sutiyoso's opinion, council speaker Edi Waluyo
underlined that the recent bombings, which have yet to be solved,
have caused anxiety about security in the capital.
"The police should realize that the public, including us, the
councilors, are very concerned about the present circumstance.
"The police force, therefore, should improve their performance
otherwise the public will not have any confidence in them," Edi
said.
The latest bomb attack that rocked Jakarta occurred last
Wednesday at the basement parking lot of the 34-story Jakarta
Stock Exchange (JSX) building in South Jakarta, leaving at least
11 people killed and some 30 others injured.
In anticipation of possible security threats at their
premises, operators of several shopping centers, hotels and
offices in the capital have further tightened their security
systems.
The management of Plaza Indonesia shopping center in Central
Jakarta, for example, have ordered their security personnel to
check all vehicles entering its parking lots with metal detectors
to ferret any bombs placed inside the cars.
At each entrance of the Plaza, four security officers were
seen, on Tuesday, checking every car thoroughly, including the
baggage compartments.
According to a security staffer Muklis T.A., the tight
security policy has been carried out since Thursday, or a day
after the powerful blast at the JSX.
The management, he added, have also decided to extend the
working hours of its 174 security officers at the shopping mall
in an attempt to have more security personnel at the complex
during rush hours.
"Luckily, most of our patrons are not complaining about the
security arrangement although they have to stay in line for
sometime, especially during weekends," Muklis said.
He also said that the management was planning to purchase bomb
blankets to cover objects suspected to be explosives and further
train its officers in anticipating bomb threats.
"Each metal detector would cost around Rp 7 million (US$815)
while the bomb blankets along with the life-protection jackets
would cost us hundreds of millions of rupiah," Muklis added.
The JSX building is using three specially trained dogs to
check the whole building and metal detectors to inspect every
person entering the building.
Unconfirmed reports stated that some five-star hotels in the
capital have hired foreign experts to design their security
systems and train security officers when dealings with emergency
situations.
Meanwhile, the City Police public counseling chief, Sr. Supt.
Siswo Adiwinoto urged the management of high-rise buildings to
install telephones that could identify each incoming call and
metal detectors to secure the buildings. (dja)