Bogor Resort Police Deployed As Thousands Protest

Bogor, W Java, Oct 3 (ANTARA) - A joint team of 3,500 personnel of Indonesian Army (TNI) and Bogor Resort Police (Polres) has been deployed to guard against protests by thousands of workers demanding improvement in their welfare. "We are focusing on providing security to the companies, security at traffic lanes, and preventing anarchist activities during the protests," said Zulkarnaen Harahap, the Head of Operations of Bogor Resort Police, here on Wednesday. Harahap noted that thousands of workers from various labour unions had gathered at several locations, such as Wanaherang Gunung Putri, Cileungsi Tower, Serena Cibinong, Bogor Indo, and the office of local government of Cibinong (Pemda). He said there were three TNI soldiers assisting each police officer stationed around the buildings and premises of various companies. "We are guarding 361 companies," Harahap added. Personnel from the joint team were also stationed at several busy traffic lanes to ensure that the rallies did not interfere with traffic flow. "We are also securing six toll gates in Bogor Regency in order to make sure that the workers do not block the highways, because it can disrupt national stability," Harahap stated. "We have deployed one company-level unit (SSK) at Sentul, Gadog, and Ciawi. But we have stationed two platoons at Gunung Putri, Citeureup, and North Sentul Toll Gate, as the traffic flow through these three toll gates is very high," he explained. Harahap pointed out that it was important to identify agents provocateurs among the protestors and prevent them from turning the protests violent. All workers are expected to eventually gather at Jalan Tegar Beriman (Bogor District Government Square) in Cibinong. Approximately 20,000 workers are expected to join the rally. The workers are demanding higher wages, revocation of the outsourcing system, and implementation of health insurance for all Indonesian citizens by January 1, 2014. Harahap said thousands of workers were rallying at Gunung Putri, Cileungsi, Bogor Indo, and in Cibinong until 8 pm. "The joint team has been deployed since 6 am to handle the situation," he added.