0 Police get ready for New Year’s bash

Over 3,000 law enforcement personnel, 1,700 police officers and 1,300 members of the military, as well as pecalang (Balinese traditional security officers) are ready to keep the island safe over Christmas and New Year. “It’s not just about numbers of officers, we are looking at 32 security posts throughout Bali. We are planning a car free night for New Year’s Eve,” Bali Police chief Insp. Gen. Budi Gunawan said on Friday. The car free night will be concentrated in areas that are usually crowded during New Year’s Eve, including Kuta, Nusa Dua and Renon, to avoid traffic congestion. 

Security arrangement will be tightened in shopping centers, entertainment spots, tourist destinations, traffic routes and Bali’s 240 churches. Heavy security will be obvious in churches which are usually visited by many Christians, including the Cathedrals in Denpasar and Kuta. As in the previous year, traffic in Kuta will be rerouted for New Year’s Eve. Vehicles will not be allowed to park along Jl. Raya Legian, Jl. Pantai Kuta, Jl. Melasti to Kuta Square starting from 2 p.m. 

The roads will be closed from 4 p.m. Vehicles heading to Jl. Pantai Kuta from Jl. Kartika Plaza will be rerouted to Jl. Singosari or Jl. Ciung Wanara, while those coming from Jl. Seminyak will go along Jl. Sriwijaya Traffic from Dewa Ruci intersection heading for the beach through Jl. Setia Budi will be rerouted to Jl. Imam Bonjol. “People going to areas around Kuta beach will park at Central Park or any parking lots around Kuta, and go to the beach on foot,” Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Hariadi said. 

To anticipate acts of terrorism, the police have three X-Ray machines which will be installed in Gilimanuk and Padangbai seaports. The two machines, worth Rp 57 billion (US$5.9 million), were given by the provincial administration. The third is a mobile machine from the National Police headquarters. “We have planned to operate the X-Ray machines for two years. It’s very important to help police officers detect unwanted items brought into Bali,” Governor Made Mangku Pastika said. 

The machines are part of the provincial administration’s program to maintain security in Bali as an international tourist destination that applies international standards of security. “We are in a place prone to security disturbances. We should apply international security standards through modern equipment, professional officers, appropriate systems and good networking. We hope everyone will help us maintain security, not only the police and the military,” Pastika said. The governor also called on hotels and entertainment centers to enhance their security arrangements ahead of the holiday.

source : bali daily