Police launch operation to safeguard festivities

Dicky Christanto and Slamet Susanto ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta/Yogyakarta   |  Wed, 12/23/2009 8:31 AM  |  National

The National Police is ready to launch its annual Operasi Lilin (Operation Candle) to safeguard the year-end Christmas and New Year festivities.

National Police deputy chief spokesman Brig. Gen. Sulistyo Ishak said the operation would commence Thursday and finish on Jan. 5, with the deployment of more than 79,000 police officers across the country.

“The National Police headquarters will provide 560 officers as backup including 300 Mobile Brigade officers,” he told a press conference Thursday.

“The remaining officers will come from the Water and Air Police divisions.

“They are on standby and will be ready to be sent to any region facing problems.”

Sulistyo said this year’s operation would focus on security in public places such as churches, shopping malls and housing complexes.

“We will cooperate with church authorities to protect all churches during the Christmas Day celebrations,” he said.

“This is to avoid potential dangers that could harm churchgoers.”

Sulistyo suggested that churchgoers minimize the number of bags they carried into churches to ease the task of security officers.

The police will also monitor areas with a history of conflict, he continued.

“This includes areas that have the potential to be used by terrorists, including areas where residents produce fireworks and firecrackers,” he said.

“We will monitor these areas as we have to remain alert.”

The police counterterrorism squad chief, Brig. Gen. Tito Karnavian, issued similar warnings on the need to remain vigilant in order to identify any possible terror activities, saying that many terrorist cells were still active.

“We must be aware of any potential threats as there are still many active terrorist cells,” he said.

The police have managed to cripple several terrorist networks this year, most notably by cap-
turing figures including the prominent Malaysian terrorist, Noordin M. Top.

The Yogyakarta Provincial Police is set to deploy 2,750 officers at churches and public places such as bus terminals, shopping centers and tourist attractions.

A Yogyakarta Police spokeswoman said the police were focusing on preventive measures.

In the surrounding area, the Bantul Search and Rescue team is preparing 78 volunteers to safeguard the Parangtritis Beach over the festive period.