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.        He further stated that during the operations a number of personnel would be on high alert at public places, such as shopping centers, tourist sites and houses of worship.          The number of personnel stationed in these places would be adjusted as per the requirements of the respective regional police units.          "They will decide the number of officers to be deployed at a church for example. The deployment plan will be decided by the respective regional police head," a police spokesman reiterated.         Meanwhile, the Head of Police's Security Maintenance Agency Commissioner General Badrodin Haiti said that the 14 regional police commands would be included in the Priority I region because Christmas celebrations in those areas were busier.         Badrodin also revealed that as of now, he did not see any bomb threats from terrorists, yet the police had been making comprehensive anticipatory efforts.         "We guard not only places where churches are found, but also other places that serve as crowded centers, such as seaports, monasteries and all other places," he said.          On Monday, the House of Representatives (DPR)'s Commission III on Security Affairs had also held a working meeting with National Police Chief General Sutarman to discuss arrangements made by the police for securing Christmas and New Year festivities.         "He (Sutarman) is the new Police Chief. We want to hear a report on his performance over the last two or three months. The Police Chief has also made an observation tour across the country and we want to see the arrangements he has put in place to secure Christmas and New Year celebrations," Tjatur Sapto Edy, House Commission III Deputy Chairman, said.          Edy added that the Commission III wanted to examine the arrangements made by the police for maintaining Christmas and year-end security, particularly with regards to the alleged security threats issued in a number of regions.          "The Commission wants to know and be assured of what anticipatory steps will be or have been taken. We heard rumors that a number places could become targets of terror attacks aimed at disrupting Christmas and New Year celebrations," Edy said.           He said that based on the Police Chief's report to the President; there were three provinces which were suspected to become targets of terror attacks. But he did not name the three provinces.           "So, we want to know how the Police Chief handles the issue. After all, we have also heard that something could have happened in Papua province earlier this month. Luckily, nothing has happened in the province so far," the Commission III Deputy Chairman said.          Meanwhile, General Sutarman revealed that the Indonesian police planned to deploy more than 86,000 security personnel to ensure public safety and order during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.          He told Commission III of the House that at least 944 personnel from the National Police Headquarters and more than 86,000 personnel from the regional and resort police commands across the country would be deployed to ensure the security of the celebrations and public order, as well as prevent any eventuality.         "The National Police will conduct the Candle Light Operation 2013 ahead of the Christmas and New Year celebrations," he said.          Sutarman noted that police officers would also be stationed at certain locations, such as houses of prayer, shopping centers, recreation areas, gas stations and others.          The National Police will also set up posts in several locations for the operations "and would not hesitate to act against anyone threatening national security and public order."     He added that police would also adopt anticipatory and early detection measures and act against any individual seeking to disrupt public security and order.          In Jakarta, in the meantime, Jakarta Regional Police Deputy Chief Brigadier General Sudjarno said he would deploy around 10,100 thousand personnel to maintain security during Christmas and New Year's Eve.          "Along with the military, we will have about 10,100 personnel maintaining law and order," he pointed out.          According to Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo, his administration had already adopted measures to secure the capital city during the Christmas and New Year festivities.          "I think there will be no crimes, but I will focus on crime prevention measures. We will undertake intelligence operations in advance to anticipate and prevent criminal acts from occurring," Joko Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, said at the City Hall on Monday.          He added that during the festival period, public transportation for the southern part of the city would be based from Duku Atas for the convenience of commuters who want to go home from South Jakarta.          "Public transportation will be available at Dukuh Atas, not at the Blok M station, to ensure commuters can go home using public transport," Jokowi noted.          The Governor added that his office would also cooperate with police and military personnel to maintain order, given the increased number of revelers in the city during the festival period.          "I think it will be better if we deploy officers from the Jakarta Regional Police and the Jakarta Military Command. We will have detailed discussions about that later," the Governor stated. ***2*** (T.A014/INE/a014) EDITED BY INE (T.SYS/A/BESSR/A. Abdussalam) 17-12-2013 18: