W. Java Police heighten security as Christmas, New Year near
W. Java Police heighten security as Christmas, New Year near
Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung, West Java
West Java Police have heightened security at public places,
especially churches and places where Christians are to hold
Christmas gatherings in anticipation of disturbances during
Christmas and New Year.
Bandung Police chief Sr. Comr. Hendra Sukmana, said on Monday
that two-thirds of the security forces in the city, or 2,700
police officers, would be deployed at strategic places and
buildings to enhance security on Christmas Eve and New Year.
He said that most police personnel in the city would guard
major churches and shopping centers in the town and use metal
detectors to check visitors.
"We are concentrating on those places because Christians will
go to churches to pray and go shopping to prepare for the
Christmas celebrations," he said.
Hendra said that there were hundreds of churches and dozens of
shopping centers scattered around the capital city of West Java
province.
"The district police will take care of those places," he said,
noting that the city had already been struck by bomb blasts this
year.
Hendra said that Bandung Police would be assisted by the West
Java Police bomb squad.
He said that security officers would be on a 24-hour alert
from Christmas until New Year's Eve.
Bandung Police have also banned the public, hotels and other
institutions from using firecrackers or fireworks to mark the
change of year because such explosives could easily be misused by
irresponsible people.
"We emphasize that we will take strict measures against those
who use fireworks or firecrackers during New Year's Eve parties,"
Hendra said, adding that police would be in charge of security
and order during Christmas and New Year both in West Java and
Banten, excluding Tangerang.
He added that anyone who used explosive devices would be
considered violators of Emergency Law No. 12/1957 on the
possession of explosives.
Hendra said that the ban had been announced to the public
through hotels, private radio stations and amusement centers
since the fasting month of Ramadhan.
"The city has been tranquil since Ramadhan because there is no
noise of firecrackers and the public feels secure, too. Therefore
we decided to maintain the ban," he said.
Hendra said he feared possible blasts in this coming Christmas
and New Year season like the one that killed four people in
Antapani area in the city, on Dec. 24, 2001.
The police suspect that the 2001 bomb blast is connected with
a series of bombings on Christmas Eve in other cities of the
country.
One of the victims, Jabir, is alleged to be the instructor of
Bali bombing suspect Imam Samudra in assembling bombs.
Meanwhile, West Java Police have prepared some 15,000
personnel to maintain security across the province and Banten
ahead of Christmas and New Year.
Provincial police spokesman Muryan Faizal Saladin said that
his office had given instructions to all police personnel to
guard recreational places that will be full of visitors during
the holidays.