Police cars are deployed in Jakarta, Indonesia, on October 15 (Photo: AFP/VNA) Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesia is enhancing security ahead of the swearing-in ceremony of the President and Vice President, slated for October 20.
National Police spokesman Dedi Prasetyo said on October 16 that military and police units have been put on high alert. About 30,000 military and police personnel will be stationed in Jakarta, particularly the Merdeka Palace, the parliament’s buildings, residences of President Joko Widodo and Vice President Ma’ruf Amin, and the routes they are expected to take to the inauguration.
However, the spokesman noted the deployment is not driven by threats or sabotage plots, adding that authorities haven’t detected any terrorist plots targeting this event.
Also on October 16, head of the Jakarta Regional Military Command Eko Margiyono said authorities would not process any permit for a public demonstration up to the presidential inauguration.
The ban has been effective since October 16 and applied to the vicinity of the parliament’s headquarters in the south of Jakarta capital. It follows security concerns, especially after widespread protests by students in late September.
Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly of Indonesia Bambang Soesatyo also called on students not to stage protests to convey a positive message to the international community./.
VNA
