"All personnel, venues and locations for the Summit and meetings have reached the final preparations and are confirmed ready for the Summit of the Southeast Asian nations," Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi, as the person in charge of the 18th ASEAN Summit organizing committee said at his office here Monday (May 2) after chairing a meeting on the preparations of the 18th ASEAN Summit.
Around 458 domestic and foreign print and electronic media have registered to cover the Summit, he said, adding it reflected the international community`s big attention to the event.
Delegations to the ASEAN Summit are expected to begin to arrive in Jakarta on May 4, 2011. They will attend senior and ministerial level ASEAN meetings to be held prior to the Summit at the Jakarta Hall Convention Center (JHCC).
The ASEAN Summit will be held on May 7 and 8, 2011 and participated in by heads of state/government of the ASEAN member countries.
Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo after attending the Summit preparations meeting said the government has designated the Gatot Subroto Army Hospital (RSPAD Gatot Subroto) located in Central Jakarta as the main health care center for participants of the upcoming ASEAN Summit.
"The organizing committee has named Gatot Subroto Hospital as the principal health care center for ASEAN summit participants," Governor Fauzi Bowo said.
The Indonesian Police (Polri) are mobilizing approximately 4,500 personnel to guard the Summit at JHCC. They will begin to perform their task as of Tuesday (May 3) for senior and ministerial level meetings.
Polri`s spokesman Senior Commissioner Boy Rafli Amar said in Jakarta, Monday that Polri are responsible for the security in cooperation with the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) and the DKI Jakarta authorities.
Senior Commissioner Sujarno of the Jakarta Police said in Jakarta, Monday, police officers will ensure security in the second and third rings, while the main venue or the first ring will be guarded by the Presidential Security Guards.
The Jakarta Police are deploying members of the traffic, intelligence and security (Intelkam), as well as Mobile Brigade (Brimob) units, to guard among other things areas surrounding the meeting`s venue, airport and hotels accommodating ASEAN delegates.
Jakarta Police Chief Inspector General Sutarman has earlier declared First Alert Security Status in Jakarta and its surrounding areas during Labor Day (May Day), which was observed peacefully by workers on Sunday (May 1), and the upcoming ASEAN Summit.
On Sunday morning (May 1), the Indonesian military (TNI) and police held a roll call at the National Monument (Monas) Square, central Jakarta, as part of preparations to secure the 18th ASEAN Summit and Labor Day.
National Defense Force (TNI) Chief Admiral Agus Suhartono led the roll call also attended by National Police Chief General Timur Pradopo and Governor Fauzi Bowo.
TNI is intensifying the preparedness of national air defense command (Kohanudnas) and deploying thousands of military personnel to support security during the Summit.
"We will protect the heads of state/government of the ASEAN 10-member countries, delegates, organizing committee members, certain groups and the public in general," the TNI chief said.
Polri Chief General Timur Pradopo has called for the participation of the public in helping maintain the security in the capital city during the Summit.
TNI and Polri need the cooperation of the public for the success of the Summit, the police general said after taking part in the roll call.
Lt Gen Y Surjo Prabowo, TNI spokesman, said recently the National Defense Forces would prepare a VVIP Security Task Force Unit (Satgaspam) to support the process of the ASEAN summit security.
"All preparations and trainings have been made, and there is no doubt that the Satgaspam will take action against possible bomb terror during the summit," Surjo Prabowo said.
Last week, spokesman of the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Sagom Tamboen said that despite several occurrences recently, national security conditions in general in the run-up to the ASEAN summit were relatively conducive.
TNI recently conducted a static show which was made up of communication and detection equipment, and other instruments which are going to be used to ensure the ASEAN summit security.
Among security units to be involved in guarding the Summit include Presidential security squad (Paspampres), the Army`s special force (Kopassus), Denjaka, Denbravo, and the Army`s strategic force (Kostrad).
Budget needed to support the ASEAN Summit and its related activities has also been disbursed and sent to concerned ministries and institutions, according to Finance Minister Agus Martowardoyo recently.
Communication and Informatics Minister Tifatul Sembiring said his ministry acting as the public relations handling the media during the 18th and 19th ASEAN Summits and the East Asia Summit to be held in Bali next November 2011, got Rp4 billion.
Indonesia is this year`s ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) chair. Indonesia`s theme for its ASEAN chairmanship is "ASEAN Community in a Global Community of Nations".
The country is determined to make this upcoming summit more than just a gathering of the leaders of the ASEAN member countries (Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar).
Indonesia must not act merely as an event organizer, but should be able to show its leadership in the region and give added value for ASEAN, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said in Jakarta on March 24.
Several ASEAN leaders will begin to arrive in Jakarta on Thursday (May 5). The President of Myanmar will make a state visit to Indonesia prior to the Summit, according to Sudi.
Last but not least, State Secretary urged all parties including government institutions and the private sectors to participate in promoting information on the upcoming ASEAN Summit.
"Please participate in promoting the ASEAN Summit through various media, such as banners, billboards, etc. so the public will be aware of the Summit," Sudi said.
Passerby near the Jakarta governor office certainly will not miss a giant billboard with a picture of Governor Fauzi Bowo and a text which reads "Make The ASEAN Summit 2011 A Success", placed in front of the office's multi-story building.
Reporter: Fardah
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
