"The Papua Regional Police Command has deployed two thirds of its forces in districts such as Puncak Jaya, Timika and Jayapura to ensure security in cooperation with the TNI (military) and the community," the head of the National Police`s public relations division, Inspector General Saud Usman Nasution, said here on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, 800 police personnel will be assigned in the PT Freeport Indonesia area and the Mimika resort police will also deploy a company of Mobile Brigade personnel and so it was hoped the situation across Papua will remain secure.
"We appeal to all people to maintain public order. If they conduct prayers service go ahead. We are proud of and love Papua," he said.
He said security authorities have prepared preventive measures and have asked people to cooperate with each other to maintain security.
"The preventive measures include patrols in all places by regional and resort police and security checking on motor vehicles," he said.
He said the National Police Headquarters had also sent a company of Mobile Brigade personnel from North Sulawesi to assure security in Papua with priority given to Jayapura, Puncak Jaya and Paniai.
Saud said persuasive actions would be taken in case they planned to raise the Morning Star flag but the police would summon and process them if crimes were committed.
"We will see and process them if they say that the flag is a state symbol. We would not make arrests if we could advise them," he said.
Activities in Abepura, Jayapura, which has so far been the center of separatist flag raising and activities especially ahead of December 1 remained conducive and normal on Wednesday.
People in the region were seen conducted their activities normally such as going to schools, offices and shops, ANTARA learned.
"December 1 is always like that. We have been used to it. Even if there is a flag raising it will not affect us," Alexis Mali, a public transport driver, said.
Jefri Safaar, a senior high student, said his school had announced no day off for that day and so students would come to school as usual.
The general chairman of the Communion of Papuan Churches (PGGP), Rev. Lipiyus Biniluk, meanwhile had called on all parties to exercise constraint to avoid conflicts in Papua.
Papua regional police chief Inspector General Bigman Lumban Tobing had earlier said he would act firmly against any kind of activity that led to attacks against the legitimate government. ***3***
(H-YH/A/HAJM/19:45/S012)
(T.SYS/B/H-YH/S012) 30-11-2011 19:45:13
Editor: Suryanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
