Bali on highest alert

As from last weekend, hundreds of police officers, army personnel and pecalang (traditional Balinese community-based security guards) were securing the island’s most critical points, such as Gilimanuk port in Jembrana regency west Bali and Padangbai port in Karangasem regency east Bali.

Gilimanuk port connects Bali and Java, while Padangbai links Bali to Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara.
The police had added personnel to safeguard the port, considered a vulnerable spot due to its limited security equipment. The terrorists responsible for the 2002 Bali bombings, in which 202 people were killed, admitted they transported explosives to the island by minibus traveling through Gilimanuk. The terrorists were able to transport the deadly explosives into Bali because there was no proper security equipment at Gilimanuk port to detect chemical explosives or drugs.

The installation of X-ray machines is expected to reduce the possibilities for those attempting to transport bombs or other explosive materials into Bali, but to date, the machines have yet to be installed. To combat security threats, around 50 personnel are in charge of security at the port on every shift. The security personnel comprise members of Jembrana Police, the Mobile Brigade and the Indonesian Army.

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