Police Chief Warns Officers of Terror Threat in Homecoming Season

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - National Police Chief Tito Karnavian instructed all of his personnel to anticipate the possible terror threats during the Eid homecoming and returning flow by coordinating with the officers serving at homecoming routes.   

“For the personnel serving on the field, please use the body system; assisted with armed personnel, either from Polri (National Police) or TNI (Indonesian Military),” Tito said when visiting rest area at Solo-Ngawi toll, in KM 575, Ngawi, East Java, Saturday, June 1.

He explained that the system is aimed at safeguarding the joint personnel during their service in the 2019 Eid homecoming and returning period. Considering last year’s incident when police personnel was shot to death by an alleged terrorist during his service on the field. “We have to anticipate the possibility of terrorism act,” said the police chief.

In addition, the police institution recently arrested a number of terrorist suspects in several regions namely West Java, East Java, and Jakarta, where bombs were also seized in the operation. “We don’t want to take a risk during this (Eid homecoming and returning) security period as they are probably recruiting new members,” Tito remarked, saying that the terrorist networks deemed Ramadan as the month of amaliyah.

Tito Karnavian is optimistic that the implementation of body system will be effective to backup the 162,000 joint personnel in safeguarding the Eid homecoming and returning flows this year.

The joint personnel includes personnel from the National Police, TNI, Transportation Ministry, regional transportation department, Public Order Agency officers (Satpol PP), Health Ministry, regional health department, scout members, as well as public and youth organization.

Novika Dian Nugroho (Contributor)