T

he Bali Police will strengthen security at all Bali'€™s gateways ahead of Christmas and New Year'€™s. The police will also involve the local communities to safeguard the island.

Bali Police chief Insp. Gen. Benny Mokalu said Tuesday that Bali Police were tightening security at major and small fishing ports to prevent terrorists from entering the resort island, as well as to prevent security problems during the Christmas and New Year celebration.

'€œWe will enhance security by improving police performance, as well as installing several CCTV cameras at the gateways,'€ Benny said, adding that the CCTV cameras would be provided by the provincial administration to add to several existing cameras previously installed.

The police will guard a number of ports, including Gilimanuk in west Bali, which connects Bali and Java; Padangbai in east Bali, connecting Bali and Lombok; and several small fishing ports around the island.

The number of police personnel on duty at ports will also be increased. '€œIf we usually place two personnel there, now we will be placing around six,'€ he said.

To prevent drug smuggling onto the island, the police have also developed intensive coordination with the customs office and the port administrator. '€œWe have greatly strengthened Bali'€™s gateways to prevent any drug smuggling,'€ Benny said.

He added the police would be asking the community to play an active role in protecting the island from security threats, including terrorism. '€œWe have conducted a de-radicalism education program in the community. We have also optimized the role of Babinkamtibmas [a police officer assigned to a village as an advisor on security and public order] and village chiefs across the island,'€ he said, adding that there are at least 686 Babinkamtibmas personnel across Bali.

As the general election is to be held across the country in April next year, Benny also gave his assurances that the Bali Police were ready to ensure security at that time too. '€œWe will fully safeguard the island during the election. We also assure the neutrality of all police personnel,'€ Benny said, adding that the police would deploy around 12,000 personnel.

He added that particular attention would be paid to areas prone to security threats, particularly social conflict. '€œHowever, every area in Bali is actually prone to conflict. So, we should be safeguarding all areas,'€ he said.

The military and pecalang (community security guards) will also support the police in maintaining security on the island during the election.

The Grand Council of Customary Villages (MUDP) chairman, Jero Gede Putus Suwena, confirmed this, saying, '€œNot just the pecalang, the customary village members will also actively participate in protecting their respective areas during the election. We are strongly aware that our active role will benefit us. Safeguarding our island is our obligation,'€ Suwena said.

The MUDP is the umbrella organization for 1,483 customary villages across Bali. All the villages are ready to deploy their respective pecalang if the situation arises.