[Kabar-indonesia] Airlines serving Indonesia heighten security measures [+Antiterror force]

[Joyo at aol.com]

also: Academy trains antiterror force

The Jakarta Post
Saturday, August 12, 2006

Airlines heighten security measures

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Major airlines serving Indonesia, including Singapore Airlines, KLM and 
Qantas, have beefed up security measures on flights from Jakarta to Britain and the 
United States in the wake of the alleged terror plot in London.

A reservations officer with Australia's Qantas Airlines, Anandito, said 
Friday in Jakarta that passengers traveling to Britain would no longer be allowed 
to take hand luggage on board.

"Passengers from Jakarta to Britain can carry only items such as their 
passports, airline tickets and documents in clear plastic bags," he told The Jakarta 
Post.

The British government has issued a number of advisories to passengers 
traveling from the UK in the wake of a suspected plot to blow up planes was thwarted 
Thursday.

As with the restrictions, passengers starting their journey at a UK airport 
will be prohibited from carrying hand luggage on board the aircraft.

A passenger will only be allowed to carry a clear plastic bag containing a 
restricted list of items, including a pocket-sized wallet or purse for money and 
credit cards, a passport and tickets, prescription medicines, glasses and 
sunglasses (but not their cases), contact lens holders (but not the lens 
solution), baby formula (but the contents of each bottle must be checked), and tampons 
and tissues (but not their boxes).

Singapore Airlines assistant manager for public relations Glory Henriette 
said Friday in Jakarta that, in the case of her airline, the stricter security 
measures would apply only to flights from Britain to Indonesia and other 
destinations.

"Passengers flying from Indonesia to Britain are still allowed to carry their 
hand luggage with them on board as we have received no orders to date from 
Indonesian airports regarding the introduction of such security measures," she 
said.

However, she added that Singapore Airlines had imposed extra security 
measures on flights to the U.S. in line with a request from the U.S. Transportation 
Security Administration.

"Such items as beverages, shampoo, suntan lotion, creams, toothpaste and hair 
gel cannot be brought into the cabin. These items must be carried in checked 
baggage," she said.

However, some items such as baby formula, breast milk, juice for small 
children or infants, prescription medicines bearing a name that matches the 
passenger's ticket, insulin and other essential medicines could be taken into the 
cabin after passing through airport security, she said.

"All footwear must be x-rayed. For people with disabilities, their footwear 
must be checked with special screening."

"For this security screening process, our airline is advising customers to 
check in early and to be prepared for delays," she said.

However, for passengers flying to the U.S., they will still be allowed to 
take handbags into the cabin after passing through a security check, she added.

The Netherlands' KLM said it had not yet adopted the UK security measures on 
flights from Indonesia, but was applying extra security measures on flights to 
the U.S.

"Passengers going the U.S. are, for example, not allowed to bring liquids 
aboard, such as beverages, shampoo, toothpaste or perfume. Passengers are also 
forbidden to take handbags into the cabin, while documents such as passports and 
tickets should be carried in clear plastic bags," a KLM officer said.

Nokia country manager for Indonesia Hasan Aula, who travels abroad 
frequently, said he was not aware of the new measures.

"But, of course, I would be worried if I had to put my laptop in the plane's 
hold," he said.

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The Jakarta Post
Saturday, August 12, 2006

Academy trains antiterror force

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A jeep that looked like it had just been repainted black was double-parked in 
front of a hotel. Three men got out.

After they had gone into the hotel, two black sedans pulled up. Two men got 
out and entered the building as well.

Minutes later, gunshots were heard, followed by a blast from an 
explosive-rigged white car parked outside the hotel. A hotel security guard rushed out, 
shouting for backup.

A police strike force quickly arrived at the scene and fanned out. Armed 
personnel came by helicopter and climbed down the outside of the hotel, entering a 
third-floor window. After a gun battle, police caught the terrorists and 
freed their hostages from inside the hotel.

Another terrorist attack? No, the shots and explosion were just part of a 
training program at the police academy in Semarang, Central Java, last week.

Siege situations and hostage negotiations were included among the scenarios.

"We hold trainings four times a year for police officers from various regions 
across the country. Usually, each city police force sends 35 officers," said 
Insp. Gen. Primanto, the governor of the police academy.

Primanto explained that the training usually lasts 21 days. Officers practice 
freeing hostages in an airplane, a train, a bus and a hotel, as well as 
defusing a bomb.

Although the training shows officers how to respond to potentially violent 
situations, using real explosives and live bullets, it emphasizes safety.

"Each training costs Rp 270 million. The National Police bear all the costs," 
he said.

Training unit director Brig. Gen. Adjie Rustam Ramdja said the frequent 
drills, supported by state-of-the-art facilities, showed the country's commitment 
to fighting terrorism.

The training facilities include a mock four-story hotel and high-ranking 
official's house, a passenger plane, a train, a bus, a shooting range, a tower and 
a bulletproof house.

"We use the tower to train snipers and the bulletproof house for shooting 
practice using live bullets," Adjie said.

"In antiterror school, we train police officers and members of the police's 
antiterror Detachment 88 to respond to real-life crisis situations," he added.

All the facilities are on the police academy's property. Although the academy 
claims to be an international antiterror school, it currently trains only 
Indonesian personnel.

"Foreign police officers will be welcome to train here in the future, but not 
now. We are not ready yet," said Adjie.

Non-nationals can sign up for training, however, at the Jakarta Center for 
Law Enforcement Cooperation (JCLEC), which is also located on the 125-hectare 
police academy property.

The JCLEC focuses more on investigation and intelligence analysis, said Adjie.

Participants learn criminal intelligence analysis, financial investigation, 
bomb scene management and victim identification.

As of last year, 120 trainers from 14 countries had trained 1,247 police 
personnel of 31 nationalities at JCLEC. The center's establishment and operations 
have been financed by donor countries.

"For example, a recent coastal patrol training on Semarang and Kuta beaches 
was financed by Italy, one of the JCLEC donor countries," said Adjie.

The initiative to establish the JCLEC as a training center to counter 
transnational crimes arose after the first Bali bombings in 2002, in which 202 people 
were killed.

Its establishment was based on an agreement struck between 25 foreign 
ministers during an Asia Pacific Summit meeting held on Feb. 5, 2004, in Bali.

Australia contributed AUS$36.8 million (US$28 million) to support the JCLEC's 
development and operations for the first five years after its establishment 
in 2004. The Netherlands contributed 10.3 million euros (US$13 million) for 
residential quarters for students and teachers, as well as for curriculum 
development. 

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Joyo Indonesia News Service
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