Westlife to perform in capital on Thursday amid tight security

JAKARTA (JP): Irish boyband Westlife is scheduled to perform here on Thursday amid tight security, at the Sumantri Brodjonegoro stadium in Kuningan, South Jakarta.

City police spokesman Sr. Comr. Anton Bachrul Alam said on Tuesday that the deployment of extra police was crucial to prevent any unwanted incidents from occurring at the stadium, which can seat 15,000 people.

About 14,000 concert tickets have been issued by concert promoter, Java Musikindo, with 90 percent of tickets already sold out.

Some 1,800 security personnel, including police officers, have been assigned for the concert, as well as a team of 200 paramedics and several ambulances and fire engines, according to Arey, a promotion executive of Java Musikindo.

Anton said Greater Jakarta Police would deploy about 1,100 police officers to provide security at the stadium's inner and outer compounds.

"Concert promoters and police will make sure that a second tragedy, like the one which occurred in March, does not happen again."

Anton was referring to an incident on March 18, when four teenage girls were crushed to death in a stampede as hundreds of fans struggled to meet British boyband,a1, at the Taman Anggrek shopping mall in West Jakarta.

Thursday's show will be the second time Westlife has performed here. Its first concert was held last year.

The group comprises vocalists Shane Filan, Nicky Byrne, Bryan McFadden, Mark Feehily and Kian Egan from Dublin, all aged between 21 and 23.

Some 6,000 fans turned hysterical at their first concert here, when dozens fainted and had to be given first-aid.

The group is here to promote their latest album, Coast To Coast, released early this year.

Only a number of festival tickets are still available for Thursday's concert, which begins at 3 p.m. and will be opened by singer Christian Wunderlich from Germany.

"The tribune tickets, which were priced at Rp 350,000 (US$31.8) and Rp 200,000, are sold out," Arey told The Jakarta Post over the phone on Tuesday.

Prices vary for Festival tickets at Rp 200,000, Rp 150,000, and Rp 125,000.

Last year, tickets were available for Rp 125,000 each.

Another Irish band, The Corrs, was scheduled to perform here last February but the event was put off until next October as vocalist Andrea had an ear infection.

Rock band Deep Purple also had to cancel their concert here, scheduled for March, for security reasons. (hdn/ylt)