The summits` security is crucial due to the planned participation of around 16 heads of state/government from ASEAN member countries and dialog partners, namely India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Russia and the United States.
"Security measures are in place, and we will keep on strengthening them," TNI General Staff Chief Lt Gen Suryo Prabowo said when inspecting the security arrangements at Benoa Seaport, Bali, on Saturday (Nov 13).
Over 15,000 military and police officers have been deployed to safeguard the Bali summits. They consist of 7,562 personnel of the TNI Security Operational Command, 750 of VVIP Security Task Force, and 2,563 of the Territorial Security Task Force.
There are also 600 personnel of the Naval Security Task Force, 300 personnel of the Air Security Task Force, around 200 personnel of the Intelligent Unit, and 1,799 police officers.
The security force had undergone a two-day security maintenance exercise on November 13 and 14, 2011, which was officially opened by Commander of the Udayana Military Command (Kodam) IX Major General Leonard Louk.
"It concerns the image of the Indonesian nation. So, do it seriously and professionally in accordance with the prevailing procedures," Leonard Louk told the officers.
Four F16 jet fighters will escort planes carrying the heads of state/government participating in the Bali summits.
Five warships and three teams of the Indonesian Navy Amphibious Force`s Command have been deployed to guard the island waters.
The warships are KRI Banda Aceh, KRI Sura, KRI Kerapu, KRI Slamet Riyadi, and KRI Karel Satsuitubun, according to Lt Col Yayan Sugiana, a spokesman of the Eastern Indonesian Naval Fleet Command (Koarmatim).
They give extra protection in Bali`s four seaports, namely Benoa, Gilimanuk, Padangbai, and Celukan Bawang, in order to prevent terrorists from entering the island.
Sixteen ANOA armored vehicles and six helicopters consisting of Mi-17, Mi-35, Bell-412, and Puma, have also been put on standby in Nusa Dua and surrounding areas.
Ahead of the ASEAN Summit and EAS, security has been tightened as senior official and ministerial level meetings are being organized beginning Monday (Nov 14).
Police and military officers, and a number of police sniffer dogs have been deployed particularly at locations around the summits` venues, namely the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (BNDCC) and the Bali International Convention Center (BICC), both located in Nusa Dua. Metal detectors have been installed in the BICC and BNDCC.
All along the by-pass between Ngurah Rai international airport and Nusa Dua, police posts have been set up at points only 200 meters from each other to oversee the traffic flows.
Every car entering the Nusa Dua Hotel has to go through a check by police, military and hotel security personnel.
The police in cooperation with the military have secured eleven places where delegates will stay such as the Hotel Melia, Grand Hyatt, Sheraton Laguna, Ayodya, Westin, Novotel and Inna Putri.
The extra efforts had been made to make sure security for the summits are in accordance with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono`s instruction on the need for tight security arrangements for the high level meetings.
"The security system must be tight. If someone has no ID card, don`t allow him/her to enter, either in BNDCC or in BICC. The roads towards the venues must be fully secured," President Yudhoyono said when inspecting the summit venues in Nusa Dua, on November 8, 2011.
The planned attendance of US President Barack Obama at the upcoming East Asian Summit had necessitated extra protection efforts.
Recently, two US Air Force planes landed in Bali carrying logistics and security personnel for security arrangements for Obama who is scheduled to arrive on November 16, 2011.
Bali`s Ngurah Rai Airforce Base Commander LT Col Jumarto said the US aircraft carried various logistics such as security equipment to be used in line with their presidential security standards.
"They have indeed asked for special space in Bali to keep their logistics supplies during the ASEAN Summit and we have prepared it," he said.
Major General Leonard Louk, however, said in Nusa Dua, on Friday (Nov 12) that the security arrangements for President Obama were not beyond normal practice or existing procedures.
"We are not making excessive arrangements," he said, adding that each country had its own security standards for its head of state/government.
"The security standards for each head of state/government participating in the ASEAN Summit 2011, have been communicated to and coordinated with Indonesian authorities," he added.
Bali Governor I Made Mangku Pastika, who is a police commissioner general himself, said Bali was secure and ready to welcome participants of the summits.
The 19th ASEAN Summit is the second ASEAN summit held in Bali, Indonesia`s most famous tourist resort, after the 18th ASEAN Summit in May 2011.
(T.F001/HAJM)
Reporter: by Fardah
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
