By: Rahmad Setiawan) *
The existence of a long holiday to coincide with the celebration of Christmas and the New Year 2020 makes all parties vigilant and alert. The preparedness is carried out in anticipation of the emergence of terror towards the end of the year.
Military observers from the University of Padjadjaran (UNPAD), Muradi appealed to all citizens, both civil and government, to remain vigilant in the span of 15 December to 15 January 2019.
Muradi even predicted that the target of the terrorist attack at the end of the year leading up to the new year would be a public official not a place of worship.
The same thing was expressed by Intelligence observer, Ridlwan Habib. He requested that all parties can extend their vigilance towards terrorism towards the end of the year and enter the beginning of 2020.
Moreover, there is a tendency for patterns like those that have occurred in the Thamrin bombing action in early 2016. At that time he said all parties had been vigilant since December 2015. But in fact nothing happened.
In fact, the attack occurred on January 11, when almost all parties lowered their awareness of acts of terror committed by terrorists.
According to him, this attack is also unpredictable / predictable in the form of terror bomb attacks. Small actions but big impact that must be wary of, for example stabbing attacks against big figures or people.
Meanwhile, Kapolresta Probolinggo, AKBP Ambariyadi Wijaya said police officers were wary of potential terror threats towards the end of 2019.
According to him, the threat of terror could occur in a number of areas, so that this made the police at Probolinggo Police Station remain alert and take action in anticipation.
Based on the instructions of the National Police Headquarters, there are 12 potential vulnerabilities that must be anticipated in the area, namely acts of terrorism, conventional crime, traffic jams, transportation accidents, social conflicts and others.
The Probolinggo Police Station also intensified the title of troops, which was an attempt to provide conduciveness during the Christmas 2019 and New Year 2020 events in Probolinggo City.
Meanwhile, Mayor of Probolinggo, Hadi Zainal Abidin, said that the title of the troops was carried out to increase the synergy of the National Police with relevant agencies in providing security and comfort at the 2019 Christmas and New Year 2020 celebrations.
Hadi said, all regional unit heads must be able to work together with relevant stakeholders to determine proactive anticipatory measures and implement appropriate strategies to overcome various potential disturbances with their respective vulnerability characteristics.
On different occasions, the Denpasar City Police together with the Bali Police Bomb Exploiting Team had been able to sterilize a number of churches in the City of Denpasar. Head of Denpasar Police Operations Section, Kompol Nyoman Gatra, said that the sterilization was carried out to anticipate acts of terrorism.
In addition, security is also needed to provide security and comfort for the people who carry out Christmas mass.
According to him, sterilization is carried out using a metal detector, mirror, and even sniffer dogs. Every corner of the church room is examined. Other objects are also inspected such as flower pots and other accessories. But the police did not find anything suspicious.
Gatra said, to be aware of the threat of terrorism, his party set up officers in each church in Denpasar. The amount varies from 10 to 15 officers depending on the size and size of the church. As for the security of Christmas 2019, the total police officers from the Denpasar Police were alerted to reach 1,117 personnel. While the number of churches in Denpasar reaches 120.
On the other hand, the National Police also continues to prepare for security ahead of Christmas and New Year by anticipating acts of terrorism, even those preparations have been brewing since last November.
Karo Penmas the Public Relations Division of the Police of the Republic of Indonesia Argo Yuwono said, anticipation of terrorism was carried out by prioritizing preventive strikes, one of which, the TNI-Polri would go down and communicate directly with the public.
Argo also revealed that the Indonesian National Police continues to carry out operations against parties suspected of being part of the terrorism network.
Ahead of and until the turn of the year, of course, the community must maintain tolerance among fellow citizens, not to be provoked by groups who want to disturb peace during the Christmas holidays and the New Year 2020.
) * The author is a social political observer
