No serious crimes during Idul Fitri holiday: Police

Dicky Christanto ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Denpasar   |  Mon, 10/06/2008 9:59 AM  |  Bali

Head of Denpasar Police Sr. Comr. Alit Widana was upbeat about the city's current security situation, saying his office had managed to curb criminal activities during the Idul Fitri holidays.

"It surprises me to know we could reduce the number of crimes... during this year's Idul Fitri holiday season," Widana told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

To date, police have received only one to two reports of crimes each day during the Ketupat 2008 joint operation, with no assaults or other crimes against visitors to the resort island.

Ketupat is a food made of steamed rice wrapped in palm leaves, and eaten during Idul Fitri.

Widana acknowledged there were five to seven reports of crimes received each day during the same period last year.

"This year, most of the reported cases dealt with minor brawls and motorcycle thefts, and we are handling them," he said.

Questioned over more serious threats, including terrorism, Widana said intelligence reports indicated there were no acts of terrorism detected as yet. However, he said he was applying a zero tolerance policy and had ordered police officers to "keep their eyes on this".

He said one way the police were combating terrorism was by coordinating with the local administration in regularly inspecting identity documents of residents, especially those living in boarding houses near the resort island's main gateways, including Gilimanuk Port in Negara and Ubung bus terminal in Denpasar.

This year's joint operation, from Sept. 24 to Oct. 9, 2008, involves 1,500 police officers, with 100 soldiers from the Udayana Military Command in reserve.

Kadek Ita Novianti, a resident of Banjar Batu Jimbar, Sanur, acknowledged the police had made extra effort in securing her village during the Idul Fitri holidays this year.

"I can see the police are quite serious this time, that's why I haven't heard of crimes taking place here," she said.

However, she said she expected the police to maintain their vigilance after the holidays.

"Please don't stop this, because there are still many tourists who regularly come to this village."

Banjar Batu Jimbar, located near Sindu Beach in Sanur and home to dozens of popular villas and hotels, is one of the police's main security targets.

Adj. Comr. I Gede Ganefo, head of South Denpasar Police, said his officers had always maintained tight security standards in the area because of Sanur's position as a tourist hot spot.

"We have applied the same security standards in the area, so whatever the occasion, the security standards remain the same," he said.

He added he had received no reports of crimes during the Ketupat 2008 joint operation.

"We did receive one report of an Australian tourist who died last week, but apparently her death was from illness and not from crime."

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