POLICE RAMP UP SECURITY AHEAD OF X'MAS, NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 17 (Antara) - The Indonesia National Police has said it will launch a Candle Light Operation and deploy 92,000 officers across the country to maintain security ahead of the Christmas and New Year celebrations.          "The operation will involve more than 92,000 personnel throughout the country. The security officers will come from the Police Headquarters and Regional Police Commands," Brigadier General Boy Rafli Amar, the Head of the Public Information Bureau at the National Police's Public Relations Division, said on Monday.           Security must be tightened to ensure that public safety and order is maintained during Christmas and New Year celebrations, especially given that 2014 will be a politically crucial year as the Indonesian public will go to the polls in a legislative and presidential election.           President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Thursday had urged security officials to be on their guard against certain parties, who would probably take advantage of the festive mood during Christmas and the New Year to disturb the security situation.          "It is a political year and we are sensing the escalating political climate in our country. Therefore, I urge all political elite and politicians to exercise self-restraint," he noted.          To anticipate any unwanted happenings, the head of state also encouraged security and law enforcement officials to work extra hard to ensure security. "I have received a report from the National Police Chief about the plans of certain elements to disturb security and order at certain places," the President stated.          Brigadier General Boy pointed out that as a result, a Candle Light Operation will take place from December 23, 2013 to January 1, 2014, wherein the police will divide operation areas into two priority regions, namely Priority I and Priority II.          He revealed that the Priority I region would cover 14 regional police commands overlooking the provinces of North Sumatra, Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, East Java, Bali, East Kalimantan, Papua, Yogyakarta, East Nusa Tenggara, Central Sulawesi, North Sulawesi, Maluku and Central Kalimantan.          "The regional police commands in other provinces will launch a Candle Light Operation in the Priority II category," Boy said.