INDONESIAN POLICE TO GIVE PRIORITY TO ASIAN GAMES SECURITY by Fardah

Jakarta, July 12, 2018 (Antara)- Indonesia is committed to giving a priority to the security during the implementation of the 18th Asian Games to be co-hosted by Jakarta and the South Sumatra provincial capital of Palembang from Aug 18 to Sept 2, 2018.

        The Asian Games will be participated in by some 9,500 athletes, 2,500 personnel of the Asian Olympic Council, and 5,500 technical delegates from 45 countries.  Around 3,500 journalists from all over the world are expected to cover the largest sport event in Asia.

          President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in his remarks during the 72nd anniversary of Bhayangkara (Police) Day on July 11, lauded  the National Police (Polri)  for   successfully maintaining the country's law and order so far. 
    He cited the 2018 Global Law and Order report compiled by consultancy firm Gallup which found that Singapore and Indonesia are among the top ten safest countries in the world.

       Singapore is at the top of the Law and Order Index, while Indonesia ranks ninth, below Switzerland and Canada and just above Denmark, seasia.co reported.   
    The Head of State, however, reminded Polri to not being easily satisfied with the achievement because  there are a number of huge tasks waiting for police in the near future, such as the 18th Asian Games, the third Asian Para Games, and the IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings which will be held this year.    
       Polri Chief General Tito Karnavian on the occasion disclosed that the Indonesian police began to focus operations to maintain order and security to ensure success in the implementation of the 2018 Asian games.

           Most of police's attention will be concentrated on creating  order and maintaining security in four provinces, particularly Jakarta and South Sumatra, ahead and during  the Games.

          "A number of national agenda becoming the focuses of police's attention  this year include maintaining order and security after the recent regional elections, security  in four provinces ahead and during the 2018 Asian Games, and  security during the IMF-World Bank Annual Meeting 2018 in October in Bali," Gen. Tito Karnavian said.

         He pledged that police and all components of the government and the people would work hard  and do their best to maintain security in the country.

          Earlier, deputy police chief Com.Gen. Syafruddin said the state police have carried out maximum security preparations to ensure successful implementation of Asian Games this year.

           A joint force of 60,000 police and military personnel have been assigned to the duty of maintaining security ahead and during the events, Syafruddin , who is also chairman of the Indonesian Asian Games contingent,  said.

              He said all athletes and participants  will be under maximum security protection from their arrivals in the country until their return to their respective countries.

             Ahead of the Asian Games, police and military personnel have carried out a number of security simulations. 
      Last May, security arrangement for the Asian Games was discussed in a meeting chaired by President Jokowi in Jakarta.  
      At the meeting, President Jokowi emphasised the importance of assuring all participants that Indonesia was safe.

            Indonesia will ensure that security during the Asian Games and the third Para Games to be held in Jakarta from October 6 to13 would meet the international standards set by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the Asian Paralympic Committee (APC).

          Besides, the Chief of the National Agency for Counter Terrorism (BNPT), Commissioner General Suhardi Alius, said the security authorities would go all out to maintain security and be on the lookout for possible terrorist disturbances.

            The agency wants to make the Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang zero attack and zero accident.

             For that, he said, the security would be made very tight. "Very strict, anyone who does not use an ID card should not go in. The motto is 'zero attack and zero accident'," said Suhardi Alius.

         Earlier, Erick Tohir,  Chairman of the Indonesia Asian Games 2018 Organising Committee (Inasgoc),  said he had worked in coordination with the police and the military to ensure the success of the Games.

           Further, the Inasgoc has tied up with the National Cyber and Coding Agency (BSSN) to improve the information system security and to prevent it from being hacked during the Games.

            "In this era, we have to anticipate cyber attacks. We should remember the incident that took place during the Winter Olympics in Korea, when there was a delay of one hour in the opening due to a cyber attack on the ticketing system," Erick Thohir said . ***2***
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(T.F001/A/BESSR/Suharto) 13-07-2018 00:39:29