Although no potential terror attacks are expected, based on monitoring and intelligence, the police would not underestimate the situation.
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Kompas/Jumarto Yulianus
Troops stand at ease during an assembly on Thursday (21/12) to launch the 2017 Candle Operation in the eastern sector of National Monument Square in Central Jakarta. Nearly 250,000 personnel from the National Police and the Indonesian military, along with other support organizations, have been deployed to secure Christmas and New Year celebrations across Indonesia.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The police, with the support of the Indonesian military (TNI), will focus its security operations on possible terror attacks and intolerance during Christmas and New Year celebrations.
National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian said on Thursday in Jakarta that about 250,000 personnel would be deployed for the holiday security operations. The number, which consists of 100,000 police personnel, 80,000 TNI personnel and 70,000 local officials and community organizations, is much higher than the 155,000 personnel deployed last year.
According to him, the top priority of the security operation was to anticipate terrorism threats. Although no potential terror attacks are expected, based on monitoring and intelligence, the police would not underestimate the situation.
It is becoming more difficult to detect terror attacks. Unlike before, many terrorist groups today operate covertly, even with a single actor, Tito said. The method was commonly used in Europe and the United States. "To anticipate disturbances, we have taken preemptive measures [controls] against the groups. We have also strengthened security at places that may be at risk of potential attacks, such as houses of worship," Tito said at a ceremony that launched the Candle Operation 2017 on Thursday at the National Monument (Monas) square in Central Jakarta.
TNI Commander Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo, Jakarta Deputy Governor Sandiaga Uno, and several other government officials attended the ceremony.
Four attacks
In 2016-2017, the country saw at least four terror attacks that were carried out by a single perpetrator, such as the August 2016attack on the Saint Joseph’s Church in Medan, North Sumatra, and the Molotov cocktail attack three months later at Oikumene Church in Samarinda, East Kalimantan.
As a precautionary measure, the police’s counterterrorism unit, Special Detachment 88, has arrested 25 suspected terrorists in the past week. "The people involved in ‘lone wolf’ operations have many reasons, but they are commonly known within a community. As a result, there is no social pathology behind their actions," Institute for International Peace Building (YPP) founder Noor Huda Ismail said separately.
In addition to terrorism, discrimination from certain groups was also a major concern of the police. Tito said the police had approached and opened dialog with groups that often carried out raids in certain places.
"We told them that religious events such as Christmas should not be disturbed. Such an activity is guaranteed and protected by law. We should have mutual respect," said Tito.
Separately, the Religious Harmony Forum (FKUB) is committed to upholding tolerance and supporting Christmas celebrations in the capital. "As in previous years, the FKUB will conduct a ‘safari’ [make rounds] on Christmas Eve, visiting a number of places of worship. We also extend our appreciation to those people who participated in maintaining harmony throughout 2017, and hope it will be better in 2018," said FKUB Jakarta chairman Ahmad Syafii Mufid, who is also an active member of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI).
Border area
Anticipatory measures against terror and discrimination are also being undertaken in a number of areas, such as West Java, Central Java, West Kalimantan, and North Sulawesi. In North Sulawesi, TNI and Police officers are also deployed to border areas, such as uninhabited islands in Talaud and Sangihe, which are believed to be the entrance of terrorist groups from the Philippines.
"The potential for disturbance [terror] is relatively high. We suspect that Marawi terrorists may seek refuge on these islands," said North Sulawesi Police deputy chief Brig. Gen. John Asadoma.
