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.