JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesian police and military started deploying at least 100,000 personnel across the capital Jakarta on Friday, officials said, as the country prepares for the inauguration of President-elect Prabowo Subianto this weekend.
Former General Prabowo will be sworn in as Indonesia’s president on Sunday with Vice President-elect, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the son of outgoing president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, also taking office.
The roughly 100,000 personnel in Jakarta will include snipers and anti-riot units and will stay in place until Wednesday, said military chief Agus Subianto.
During previous important events in Jakarta, security personnel have been placed in key areas such as the parliamentary building where the inauguration takes place, the presidential palace and Jakarta’s main roads.
On Friday, at least two thousands military personnel were taking part in security drills at Jakarta’s National Monument complex, with dozens of military light tactical vehicles on the ground.
“We need to be alert about possible threats before, during and after the inauguration,” said Agus.
The security forces are expected to escort 36 state leaders who will attend the inauguration, Agus said, without giving further details.
The Indonesian Air Force will also deploy four F-16 jets to guard aircraft carrying foreign dignitaries attending the inauguration, state news agency Antara reported.
Hundreds of people are expected to gather in Jakarta’s streets to welcome Prabowo as the new president and give a farewell to Jokowi, said police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo.
(Reporting by Ananda Teresia and Johan Purnomo; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
