INDONESIAN police and security forces held parades across the country on Wednesday to kick off a nationwide security operation for the Christmas period in the wake of the arrest of terrorists plotting end of year bombings.
The country’s police chief, Badrodin Haiti, said more than 80,000 police and 20,000 military personnel along with 50,000 others from public agencies would be on guard during Operation Lilin in a bid to thwart any terrorist activity.
Mr Haiti said it was not a routine operation and that in 2015 both internationally and in Indonesia there had been deadly terror attacks and unrest.
Bali, which is expecting an influx of domestic and international tourists or the holidays, has deployed 8500 police and 1500 military personnel for the period of Operation Lilin from December 24 to January 2.
The Bali police chief, Sugeng Priyanto, said churches would be a priority for security and that bomb squads would be deployed at churches considered to be the most vulnerable. Security checks and sweeps would also be conducted at churches prior to services.
The renewed security focus comes after the arrests this week of nine suspected terrorists in Java whom police allege were plotting attacks on churches, police and Shiite communities. It was believed an attack was planned for the Christmas-New Year period. There was no indication however that tourists or Bali was a target.
Mr Priyanto said Bali was now on the highest level of alert.
“Churches are our priority. We will safeguard all churches, together with the military and Pecalang (traditional Balinese guards) and other related institutions,” Mr Priyanto said.
He said the bomb squad would be stationed at some churches. There are 253 churches in Bali.
“We will see which are the most vulnerable churches and we will deploy them (bomb squad). As our squad is also limited we cannot deploy them to all churches.
“Before church services we will conduct security sweeps.”
Mr Priyanto reiterated that all places remained vulnerable in the current security environment.
Asked if he could guarantee that Bali will be safe in the Christmas and New Year period, he said: “Safe. God willing safe.”
The show of force, which included members of all security apparatus, was led by the Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika, a former police chief and the man who lead the investigation into the 2002 Bali nightclub bombings.
A mandate from the national police chief, which was read out at all show of force ceremonies across the country, reminded officers to increase vigilance, especially in areas which could become terrorist targets and to work with the community to anticipate trouble spots.
He instructed his troops to optimise the role and function of intelligence to ensure that potential security problems were identified.
In addition to Bali churches, the Bali police will focus on tourist hot spots, restaurants, crowded places and air and sea ports.
