REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, DENPASAR - Bali Police department will deploy at least 1,300 personnel to ensure security at the 5th Annual Meeting of Bali Democracy Forum (BDF), to be held in Nusa Dua, Bali on November 8-9.
"We will cooperate with the National Police and deploy about 1,300 personnel to secure the event," the Head of Bali Police Public Relations, Police Commissioner Hariadi, said on Wednesday.
He stated that the event would be attended by 15 Asian countries. However, the police are still not sure how many heads of state will attend the annual forum.
"Bali police is also ready to step up security if necessary," Hariadi said.
"We are optimistic that we can guarantee security at this event, since we managed to do a good job at the Bali bombing commemoration event in October," he added.
Hariadi stated that the bombing incident in Poso, Central Sulawesi, on October 22, would not affect the security of Bali because both places have "different social conditions".
"The police have been securing some of the main entry points to the island, both from the Java-Bali path at Gilimanuk port, Bali-Lombok path at Padangbai port, and some other risk-prone pathways," he said.
However, Hariadi added, Bali police would continue to be "extremely alert, because the island often becomes a target of terrorism".
"We`ll check all vehicles in Bali intensively, especially those entering Bali. Not only that, we will also check for firearms and sharp weapons," he said.