Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The ongoing international sporting event of Asian Games in a safe and peaceful atmosphere since August 18 to September 2, 2018 can strengthen the international relations of countries in the continent of Asia.

Good relations created through the Asian Games will also have a very positive influence in welcoming the era of globalization and free markets in this millennial era.

The Rector of the University of Muhammadiyah Jakarta, Prof Syaiful Bakhri, argued that the main objective of the Asian Games was to strengthen harmony, peace and justice without interference with political or religious issues.

According to him, the Asian Games are not just sports parties, but also a means of promotion for Indonesia`s potential to become the center of the world`s attention.

Hosting the 2018 Asian Games is proof that Indonesia is a safe, peaceful, and conducive country for this international sporting event which is free from the interference of radicalism and terrorism.

It turns out that a multitude of athletes from 45 countries in Asia who are chasing champions in 40 sports have been able to compete safely without any security disturbances because thousands of officers from the Police and Military (TNI) are united to maintain security.

During the Asian Games, the Police and TNI officers are united to maintain security for the participants and officials of the international sporting event in Jakarta and Palembang.

In the run up to the Asian Games, Pangdam Jaya Military Commander Major General Joni Supriyanto confirmed that the Military and Police officers weree ready to maintain the security.

The Pangdam Jaya Military commander and Metro Jaya Police Chief Inspector General Idham Azis, ahead of the Asian Games, led a show of force of Among Raga Operation for ensuring security during the international sporting event.

Supriyanto stated that the TNI Commander, Chief of Police, and Chairman of the Indonesian National Asian Games Organizing Committee (INASGOC) have made a coordination and provided directions for successfully hosting the Asian Games.

He revealed that the TNI, Police, and INASGOC, as the organizers of the Asian Games, were committed to making the Asian Games a great success.

Even the security officials safeguard the contingent of athletes and officials from other countries in Jakarta for offering maximum security and comfort while competing.

Meanwhile, INASGOC Deputy Chairman Syafrie Syamsuddin noted that the show of force by the Military and Police is the starting point of the security simulation activities in the Asian Games match venues.

Syamsuddin insists security is an important part of support during the international sporting event of the Asian Games.

According to him, the principle used in security to support the Asian Games is comfort and vigilance.

In the South Sumatra provincial city of Palembang, around 7,400 personnel were deployed to safeguard this multi-sport event, according to National Police Deputy Chief Comr. Gen. Syafruddin.

The Police have prepared maximum security to maintain conducive situation during the Asian Games.

Around 10,000 joint personnel were deployed during the Asian Games so that all participants can get maximum security, he remarked.

In terms of security, all Asian Games contingents were treated equally starting from their arrivals to their returns to their respective countries.

The joint-security personnel in advance had made various preparations, including a security simulation of athletes.

In addition, the Indonesian police also focused on dealing with the question of terrorism during the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang from Aug 18 to Sept 2.

Prior to the international sporting event of Asian Games, Chief of the National Police General Tito Karnavian said the security measures would give priority to the issues of terrorism, conventional crimes, congestion and land and forest fires.

The police have taken security measures long before August 18, he said.

Some contingents, officials and advance teams arrived in Indonesia early August. Even some of them have checked the venues of games and have done exercise.

Earlier, Deputy Police Chief Com. Gen. Syafruddin remarked that the state police have carried out high-level security preparations to ensure the successful implementation of the Asian Games.

A joint force of 60 thousand police and military personnel have been tasked with maintaining security ahead of and during the events, according to Syafruddin, who is also chairman of the Indonesian Asian Games contingent.

To deal with terrorist threat, Polri and TNI have caught 242 people in the wake of bomb attacks in the East Java provincial capital of Surabaya some time ago. Twenty one of the 242 people were shot dead as they resisted arrest.

The conventional crimes including thefts and robberies have been committed in the jurisdiction of the four provincial police, including the Jakarta Metropolitan Police, the West Java provincial police, Banten provincial police and South Sumatra provincial police.

Thousands of people have been arrested and detained for their involvement in conventional crimes, and hundreds of them have been detained.


Reporter: Otniel Tamindael
Editor: Otniel Tamindael
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