Exclusive: Current report from our on the road crew
Denpasar, Oct 2nd, 2003

The distinct changes are felt as we entered the BICC (Bali International Convention Centre) the venue of 9th ASEAN Summit in Nusa Dua yesterday. At every corner there are Paspampres (president security troops) watching at every visitor coming into the lobby and the conference room. “Conferences area are to be sterilized a week into the summit. Everyone is ready to do their duties” as one of the security people acknowledges to us.

The extra-tight securities are not bound inside the venue itself. As we move further outbound the area, there are still many security personnel around and constantly ‘watching’ us. We recognize some of the personnel as the red barrette elite troops, much famous when the regime of Suharto in control of Indonesia. They did not necessarily within close proximity to their target. Some are watching visitors from up to 100 meters away.

The intense level of security would answer the general questions whether Indonesia will be capable of hosting such an important meetings.To reduce potential danger, there are further additional of snipers troop and ‘den jaka’, the Indonesian FBI that are unrecognizable but to their commander, as we are told by the local policeman.

Meanwhile, based on our observation, Police and National army (TNI) regularly patrol the delegate’s route from Airport to the conference room itself. Equipped with Bikes and mobile vehicles, form a group of 2-3 vehicles and constantly travel to each designated vital areas such as airport, tuban, kedonganan port and benoa port. We observe there are 3 level of security to escort the arriving delegates to the Nusa dua (conference area); with the first level are police officers escorting at the very front, MP at both sides of delegates vehicles and PatWal (elite troops) to follow with each troops level wearing a bullet-proof equipments.

What about the marine security? 2 war-ships are docked in the Benoa Harbour and a further 5 will guards the surrounding Bali, each equipped with several fighting planes. Kuta and Nusa Dua will particularly be guarded with elite marine troops to eliminate the threats and dangers of the 2 populous areas.

Compiled by By IGB Perbawa (batukaru.com team)