Troops secure Christmas
Troops secure Christmas
JAKARTA (JP): The Greater Jakarta Military Command will deploy
additional troops to secure the capital and surrounding areas
during the Christmas and New Year holidays.
Commander Maj. Gen. Wiranto said yesterday the number of
personnel to be deployed will depend on the need.
"The troops are mobile. We are ready to field as many men as
needed," he told The Jakarta Post after opening a bazaar marking
the military command's 46th anniversary.
He said the military command will cooperate with the city
police to maintain security during the holidays.
The city police will announce their preparations for the
Christmas and year-end holidays today.
Last year, 14,000 military troops and police officers were
deployed to safeguard Christmas and New Year celebrations in the
city.
Wiranto said that the deployment of extra security forces is
the last of a series of operations conducted by the military
command to maintain security in the city this year.
"I hope no major crimes will happen up to the end of the year
because we have conducted several operations to rid the Jakarta
area from criminals," he said citing Operasi Kilat Jaya and
Operasi Sapu Bersih.
He said that military and police officers would be deployed
not only at Christmas and New Year's eve celebration sites, but
also along the main streets and at bus terminals and railway
stations.
"Many people will be wanting to go to their hometowns in
Central and East Java and Sumatra to celebrate Christmas safely,"
he said.
Wiranto, also chairman of the Jakarta Agency for the
Coordination of Support for the Development of National Stability
(Bakorstanasda), warned that the city military command will not
hesitate to take strict actions against criminals, hoodlums, or
any groups who tried to disturb security.
"We will take stringent actions because all citizens have been
upset by the horrific crimes, such as sadistic killings and
burglaries, in the past," he said.
"We need no discussions and seminars to seek factors causing
the crimes. We will quickly act when seeing any crimes or
incidents that can disturb security," he said. (rms)