POLICE GUARD CILACAP`S AIRSTRIP AHEAD OF AMROZI ET AL`S EXECUTION

Cilacap, Indonesia, Nov 1 (ANTARA) - A platoon of police officers from the Mobile Brigade (Brimob) has been deployed to safeguard Cilacap's Tunggulwulung airstrip ahead of the execution of three Bali I bombers early this month.

The chief of the airstrip's operations control, Adjunct Commissioner Bambang Listiono, said here on Saturday the police's crack troops unit was deployed as part of efforts to secure vital objects in the area.

A police helicopter also stood ready at the airstrip in case it would be used to support security efforts.

Listiono said the security efforts had been done since five days ago by the Cilacap resort police command.

"The Brimob forces arrived just two days ago," he said adding the police helicopter meanwhile just arrived on Saturday.

He said security efforts at the airstrip were not massive because not many flight activities occured there. However he said that methods for securing vital objects in the area were different from one to another.

"Some objects require police with full combat gear while others only plainclothed policemen," he said.

He said not many planes particularly helicopters flying to Nusakambangan would stay at Tunggulwulung.

"Helicopters to the island usually land directly at the helipad available on the island. If they land at the airstrip they usually only intend to take a rest," he said.

Security efforts at some vital objects such as the production unit of state-owned oil company Pertamina, the Karangkandri coal-powered electricity generating plant and the industrial zone were not seen conspicuous. Not so many armed or uniformed officers were seen there.

Security around the Wijayapura pier in Cilacap has also been tightened. All visitors coming to Nusakambangan through the pier including the priest who usually gives service in some churches on the island have to pass a metal detector.

Journalists from home and abroad have been coming there to cover the execution of Amrozi et al.

However no official statement on the exact date of the execution has been issued so far.