... Two naval warships namely KRI Tongkol and KRI Sawalku have stood by at the Benoa seaport to conduct patrol... "Denpasar, Bali (ANTARA News) - The naval base in Denpasar, Bali, has increased its sea patrolling activities around Bali's Ngurah Rai airport ahead of the Asia Pacific Open Government Partnership meeting at Nusa Dua on May 6-7.
"We have increased our routine patrol among others in the sea area around the airport," the chief of the naval base, Col. Julius Widjojono, said after taking part in a patrol on Sunday.
Using two rubber boats and two jetskis some navy soldiers led by Col Julius scoured the waters around the Bali Mandala toll road in the area between Benoa and Ngurah Rai close to the eastern part of the runway.
He said the area near the airport is vulnerable to infiltrators and so it has been given a special security attention.
"Several sea areas are close to where planes land and take off and therefore are vulnerable," he said.
He said he had asked fishermen to stay away from the area and inform the security authorities in case they saw suspicious activities.
"We have informed fishermen in Kedonganan, Celukan Bawang, Gilimanuk, and Serangan to support us in assuring security," he said.
He said the navy base has deployed 200 of its personnel to carry out patrol activities. Two naval warships namely KRI Tongkol and KRI Sawalku have stood by at the Benoa seaport to conduct patrol.
Indonesia has been appointed to host the Open Government Partnership Asia Pacific Regional Conference on May 6-7, 2014 in Nusa Dua, Bali, with Mexico as the programs co-chair.
Open Government Partnership is a program that was established in September 2011, aiming to promote development of governmental openness in accordance with aspirations and commitment of its member countries.
Indonesia was one of the eight pioneering countries besides Brazil, Mexico, Norway, the Philippines, South Africa, Britain and the United States of America.
The conference is scheduled to be attended by a number of heads of state and ministers of the program's member countries in the Asia Pacific, multilateral organizations, academicians, youth and the mass media.
Indonesia's involvement in the program is a pledge to establish three pillars of implementing the democratic governance namely transparency, public participation and accountability.
According to the Presidential Work Unit for Development Control and Monitoring (UKP4) press release received here Tuesday that Indonesia realizes that openness is fundamental for a modern governance, it is a key to open all potentials.
Moreover, the rapid increase use of cellphones, internet and social media also triggered the commitment, where the public demands the government to be more transparent, accountable and allows public participation.
Therefore, in 2014 Indonesia is expected to spread the open government "virus" in the Asia Pacific region through the conference, which will create the strategic and operational agenda for the program.
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott meanwhile has decided to cancel his participation in the conference amid reports that an asylum seeker turnback operation was underway that could renew tensions between the neighbors.
Abbott's office has confirmed he no longer intended to travel to Bali on Tuesday for a meeting with Indonesian president Susilo Yudhoyono but declined to go into the reasons for putting off the visit, which had been seen as a thawing of ties tested by recent rows over espionage and Australias controversial refugee policies.
"The prime minister was hoping to attend the Open Government Partnership conference in Bali next week at the invitation of His Excellency President Yudhoyono. The prime minister is grateful for the invitation," a spokesman for Abbott said.
"Unfortunately the prime minister is unable to attend at this time and he hopes to visit Indonesia to meet with the president at a mutually convenient time," he added.
Editor: Ade P Marboen
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