W

ith world leaders due to arrive in Nusa Dua to attend the fifth Bali Democracy Forum, the island'€™s police and military have intensified security arrangements in the days leading up to the event to be held from Thursday to Friday.

The Bali Police have deployed 2,700 personnel to support the military to secure the annual meeting of world leaders to discuss the promotion of democratic principles and values at global level.

Bali Police chief Insp. Gen. Budi Gunawan said security had been tightened in several areas, particularly at the locations of resorts in Nusa Dua around the meeting venue, the Bali International Convention Centre and the hotels where the delegates are staying.

'€œWe will also deploy extra security along several traffic routes heading to Nusa Dua, Ngurah Rai airport and Jimbaran,'€ he said.

Security has been tightened since Tuesday and this will continue until Saturday. Police officers and soldiers have been guarding road intersections en route to Nusa Dua.

Extra security has been applied very strictly at the entrance of the resort complex with thorough checks of every vehicle entering the area.

The Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Adm. Agus Suhartono and the National Police chief Gen. Timur Pradopo inspected the forum venue on Wednesday afternoon, Antara reported. Later, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is also expected to inspect the venue.

The military has been on high alert to anticipate any security disturbance during the annual conference.

The Udayana Military Command chief, Maj. Gen. Wisnu Bawa Tenaya, said security had been stepped up starting with the island'€™s main entrance points of Gilimanuk Padangbai seaports.

Along with thousands of personnel, the authorities are also deploying inflatable boats, armored vehicles, helicopters and warships as part of the security arrangements.

'€œTogether with the police, we have put all the extra security arrangements in place to anticipate any disturbance, such as demonstrations or terrorist acts,'€ he said.

Traditional village security officers or pecalang will participate in the security arrangement to help the police and military forces.

'€œWe will be involved in maintaining security in our respective villages by coordinating with the police,'€ said Made Mudra, chairman of the Denpasar pecalang organization.

Should they discover anything suspicious that could be a potential disruption to the event, they will report it to the police.

As many as 60 pecalang would be directly involved in the security arrangements for the democracy forum, said the Bali Police'€™s director of community policing, Sr. Comr. Putu Suastawa.

'€œThey will be in the front line to prevent anyone who tries to disrupt the event from entering the second and the first rings of security,'€ he said.

The 60 pecalang are from villages around Nusa Dua, including Pecatu and South Kuta villages.

As a traditional security guard, the position of pecalang is unique and respectable. They have always actively taken part in maintaining security during national and international events in Bali.