"The government has always quickly responded to such situations by deploying security personnel to the affected areas before the riots spread any further. Therefore, it is not true that the government sometimes turns a blind eye to riots happening in
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Djoko Suyanto, has stated that the government never overlooks the riots that occur in some parts of the country.

"The government has always quickly responded to such situations by deploying security personnel to the affected areas before the riots spread any further. Therefore, it is not true that the government sometimes turns a blind eye to riots happening in the country," he said at the Vice President`s office here on Monday.

Suyanto made the statement after a regular meeting with Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi, National Police chief Gen.Timur Pradopo, and Vice President Boediono.

According to the minister, the central government continues to monitor violence-prone regions through their respective heads in its effort to prevent conflicts across Indonesia.

He pointed out that the government immediately deployed additional security forces from the National Police and Army during the riot in Balinuraga village, South Lampung district, on October 28-29.

"Besides, we have continued our rehabilitation efforts in the riot-hit area. For instance, we set up shelters and provided food for the refugees," Suyanto explained.

"So far, the shelters are still in use and there is no problem," he added.

Suyanto stated that the police would focus on the distribution of aid to the refugee camp at Kemiling State Police School (SPN) in Bandar Lampung, the capital of Lampung province.

"The SPN camp aims to provide food aid as well as health care," he said, adding that the government was also planning to step up security in violence-prone regions across the nation.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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