"Hopefully, we will be able to mitigate and solve any likely problems. Of course we will work in coordination in the event of demonstrations and how to handle them," the National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo noted in his statement in Labuan Bajo on Sunday.
The former Banten Regional Police Chief affirmed that the police had prepared measures to anticipate demonstrations during the summit.
He said that the police would establish communication with the parties who are wishing to voice their aspirations through demonstrations.
"On the one hand, we will uphold the freedom of expression. But on the other hand, we have to ensure that its exercise will not disrupt the ASEAN Summit. That is our main concern," he pointed out.
Furthermore, Prabowo also drew attention to the potential threat of terrorism, saying that he had held a meeting and prepared a detection task force unit to monitor suspected individuals.
"We have installed monitoring devices in a number of spots, ranging from airports to venues and passing routes, so that the targets that we are following can be monitored through our devices. Once they are detected, we will take immediate measures," he said..
The security apparatus has also prepared K-9 and bomb-defusal teams in anticipation of suspicious goods or objects.
All the mitigation measures, he said, were prepared to ensure the security forces' readiness to face such events.
"But we also need to ensure that this preparation does not become an issue that will instead interfere with the ASEAN Summit," he concluded.
The series of events of the 42nd ASEAN Summit will take place from May 9 to May 11, 2023.The Meruorah Hotel and the Ayana Hotel will be the main venues for the summit.
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Translator: Fransiska Mariana, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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