POLICE, MILITARY GEAR UP FOR ASIA-AFRICA CONFERENCE by Fardah

    Jakarta, April 15, 2015 (Antara) - The Indonesian military and police are ready to safeguard the 60th Asia-Africa Conference (AAC) and the 10th New Asian-African Strategic Partnership in Jakarta and Bandung, West Java, from April 19 to 24, 2015.            
    Fifty-seven delegations, including heads of state/government, from Asian and African nations have confirmed their attendance at the AAC celebration.

        Events marking the AAC will include a senior officials' meeting on April 19, a ministerial-level meeting on April 20, the Asian-African Business Summit on April 21, and the Asian-African Summit in Jakarta on April 22 and 23.

         On April 24, heads of state are expected to participate in a historical walk event in Bandung.    
    Some 109 Asian and African countries, 17 observer countries and 25 international organizations have been invited to the event. 
    The Asia-Africa Conference was first organized in Bandung in April 1955 at the initiative of Indonesia, Myanmar (Burma), Ceylon (Sri Lanka), India, and Pakistan.

         It was viewed as a symbol of freedom from colonialism, besides being a symbol of the resurgence of Asian and African nations. Some 29 countries representing more than half of the world's population had sent their delegates to the conference. 
   The TNI will deploy 26,663 officers, including 1.3 thousand Air Force personnel, in addition to 9.7 thousand police personnel, according to Chief of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) General Moeldoko. 
   Security at Ring-1 is handled by the Air Force (TNI-AU), while Ring-2 and Ring-3 will be handled by police and army personnel. 
   While security officers will guard the ministers of participating countries, presidents or heads of states will be protected by the Presidential Guard Forces (Paspampres).

         "To secure the AAC, we have conducted a technical force game (TFG). Every step has been well simulated," Moeldoko revealed in Jakarta on April 14, 2015.  
    Chief of the Jakarta Police Inspector General Unggung Cahyono recently remarked that police personnel will particularly guard Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, the Halim Perdanakusuma air force base, certain flyovers, main avenues, and hotels.

        "We will also coordinate with the Jakarta Police and Military Command to guard 18 hotels and 13 multi-storey buildings," he stated.

        From April 1 to 21, 2015, the Jakarta Police are conducting Operation Sympathetic to improve public awareness of traffic regulations.

        In addition to those personnel, the National Police's Mobile Brigade will deploy three thousand personnel, including snipers at certain locations, to secure the participants of the conference, Senior Commissioner Leo Bona Lubis, the Brimob spokesman, noted.

         "Five hundred personnel will work with the Jakarta Police and 2.5 thousand others will be on standby at the Brimob Headquarters and ready to be deployed when needed," he added.

          Police will also deploy some 13 sniffer dogs to detect explosives and to secure locations and operational vehicles to be used by delegates. The dog squad will include breeds such as the Belgian Malinois, the German Shepherd, the Dutch Shepherd, and the Labrador.

       In Bandung, the provincial capital of West Java, where the peak Historical Walk event will take place on April 24, nine thousand joint security personnel will be deployed.

        "The delegates of the 60th anniversary of the AAC will be secured thoroughly. More than nine thousand joint personnel will be deployed," West Java Chief Inspector General Mochamad Iriawan stated.

        Furthermore, the West Java Police will have special security measures for the North Korean delegation. The participation of North Korean and Chinese leaders in the AAC 2015 will demonstrate their trust in Indonesia's security.

           "We are proud that North Korean president or presidium chairman will lead the country's delegation to Indonesia. There will surely be special security arrangements, even for the Chinese delegation," West Java Police Chief Inspector General Mochammad Iriawan stressed.

        The West Java Police will deploy special personnel for the delegations and implement stringent security measures.

        Security authorities in Bandung have prohibited the use of helicams (drones) to cover the AAC 2015 in the first security area of the Merdeka building.

        Furthermore, he revealed that the AAC can be covered from corners assigned and coordinated by the Presidential Guard Forces.

        Some 1,300 journalists and reporters who have registered and received special identity cards can cover the event.

          He also mentioned that the West Java Police will set up a media center to provide information to journalists and communities that support the implementation of the AAC.

        "The West Java Police will set up a media center in a strategic location," he noted.

         With the participation and involvement of the Indonesian society, the government is optimistic that the AAC will smooth and successful. ***2***
(F001/INE)