Gov’t Ensures Security During Christmas, NY Holiday

Cabinet Secretariat Pramono Anung on his press statement, at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, Friday (13/12). (Photo by: Agung/PR).

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has instructed Chief of the Indonesian National Police (Polri) General Idham Azis to ensure security and comfort to the public during the year’s Christmas and 2020 New Year holidays, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung has said.

“The Police will take decisive measures against acts of persecution, SARA (ethnicity, religion, race, and group affiliation)-based conflicts, and riots,” Pramono told reporters after the Limited Cabinet Meeting on the Preparation of Christmas and the New Year 2020 Holidays at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, Friday (13/12).

According to Pramono, the Polri Chief also reported that the annual safeguarding operation that goes by name of Operasi Lilin (Operation Candle) will begin from 19 December 2019 to 2 January 2020 and involve nearly 191,000 joint personnel from the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI), Polri, Regional Public Order Agency (Satpol PP), Regional Transportation Office, and Regional Health Office.

The Government also guarantees the fuel availability for the holiday season, he added.

“(State oil and gas company) Pertamina will be proactive to distribute the fuel if there are traffic congestions like two or three years ago,” Pramono said, adding that the Government also guarantees electricity supplies by activating all power plants to avoid blackouts.

Citing report from Minister of Trade Agus Suparmanto, Pramono said there are no indications that prices would rise beyond the prediction.

“Our inflation is on check until today, including staples inflation rate at 3.47 percent,” he added. (FID/AGG/ES)

Translated by: Galuh Wicaksono
Reviewed by: Muhammad Ersan Pamungkas