REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, DENPASAR -- Thousands of police officers are deployed to guard the World Trade Organization (WTO) conference, which will be held in Bali from Dec. 3 to 6.

"All personnel of the Bali provincial police are on standby to guard the WTO meeting," the head of the Bali provincial police's operations bureau, Snr. Comr. I Gede Alit Widana, said after a roll call at Nusa Dua, Bali, on Sunday.

But he stopped short of revealing the number of police personnel.

Police from West Java, Central Java and East Java provinces also sent their personnel to help guard the meeting, he said.

"We also receive security assistance from the National Police Headquarters," he said.

The personnel from the three provincial police and the National Police Headquarters would be tasked with escorting delegates, conducting intelligence activities, combating terrorism and safeguarding vital objects, he said.

The 9th WTO ministerial conference would bring together about 10 thousand participants from 167 countries, including 20 observer countries, he said.

"We started the week-long security on December 1," he said.

Adj. Comr. Wayan Setiajaya, public relations chief of Jembrana police, said last Friday the Jembrana resort police have tightened security at the Gilimanuk sea port by adding 45 police officers in view of the WTO conference.

Wayan added that the additional officers would focus on guarding the entrance gate of Bali, as well as the exit gate.

Police will also patrol the waters of the Bali Strait with the help of the Waters Police of Pengambengan village and in the Gilimanuk area.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to open the WTO meeting at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (BNDCC) on Tuesday (Dec 3).

The conference will later discuss a wide range of issues including world trade mechanism.

Indonesian Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan will chair the meeting.

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