11,000 Personel Deployed to Secure APEC

Pewarta : Reported by Dewa Wiguna

11,000 Personel Deployed to Secure APEC

Denpasar (Antara Bali) - The Indonesian Defence Forces (TNI) and the police are planning to deploy at least 11 thousand personnel to secure the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Nusa Dua, Bali, from October 1 to 8.

"We will deploy a total of 11 thousand personnel from TNI and the police to safeguard the area, including the sea and air," said TNI Commander General Moeldoko, after a readiness roll call of combined TNI/Police forces in preparation for the summit on Thursday.

He added that the forces would be led by VVIP Security Operations Chief Lieutenant General Lodewijk F Paulus and they include Regional Security Task Force, headed by the commander of the IXth Military Command, Major General Wisnu Bawa Tenaya, and Bali's Regional Police Commander Brigadier General A Julius Benny Mokalu.

Other forces include air and sea security units, intelligence unit and very very important person security units, led by the Chief of the Presidential Security Unit.

General Moeldoko said security officers in Bali would also be supported by TNI and Police forces in East Java.

"TNI and Polri forces in East Java would be on stand-by mode in case back-up security is required in Bali," he said.

The personnel would be stationed in a number of strategic locations categorised as Ring 1, Ring 2, and Ring 3.

National Police Chief General Timur Pradopo, meanwhile, said the police is ready to cooperate with TNI in terms of providing personnel as well as equipment.

"The combined security effort has been part of the security measures," he said.

During the roll call, a number of security equipment were shown, including tanks, armoured vehicles, helicopters, and other tactical and patrol vehicles.

Twenty one heads of state, including four heads of state from observer countries, thousands of delegates, and around 2,000 media personnel are expected to attend the APEC meeting. (DWA)
Editor: Dewa Sudiarta Wiguna
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