Some areas vulnerable for militants strikes during Christmas : police chief

Indonesian Police chief General Badrodin Haiti said on Friday that some areas in the country are potential and vulnerable over militant strikes during Christmas and New Year Eve.

Therefore the general said that the security authority put a priority to secure the areas during the annual events.

"Because it is based on experience, and the potential of the terrorist acts to happen still exists," he said at the presidential palace here.

"Therefore we can not say that they are save. We must always be on alert on it," Mr. Badrodin stressed.

The general revealed that there are 12 provinces are categorized as vulnerable against the possible militant strikes, including all the provinces in Java Island, the provinces of Central Sulawesi and North Sulawesi, Papua and West Papua, East Nusa Tenggara, North Sumatra, and Bali.

Indonesia has boosted alertness following the threat from the Islamic State or IS to launch global strikes including in Indonesia, and video threat from leading militant group in Poso of Central Sulawesi province, so called Santoso group, to strikes some targets in the country.

Special operation would be conducted by police and military to secure the Christmas and New Year Eve, starting from Dec. 24 to Jan. 2, General Badrodin said.

Mr. Badrodin said that over 150,000 policemen would be deployed at the operation from total 300,000 personals being prepared for the task.

As many as 70,000 soldiers out of 300,000 military men being prepared for the mission would be dispatched on the operation, he said. Enditem