Police gear up ahead of fuel price hikes

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Jakarta | Sun, June 16 2013, 1:25 PM

The city police are currently implementing Operasi Dian Jaya 2013, a security operation to anticipate trouble ahead of the expected subsidized fuel price hikes.

“Operasi Dian Jaya has been ongoing since June 10,” said police spokesman Sr. Comr. Rikwanto, in Jakarta, on Sunday, as quoted by Antara news agency.

Rikwanto said the police’s detective unit for special crimes and all police precincts had increased operations to prevent disruption of fuel distribution.

Operasi Dian Jaya is aimed at preventing fuel crimes, such as hoarding and modifying fuel tanks, as well as monitoring fuel purchases and consumption.

“The city police have increased monitoring activities to anticipate potential hoarding in suburbs and border areas such as Bekasi, Depok and Tangerang,” said Rikwanto.

Moreover, he said, the police were also prepared for demonstrations or rallies expected in protest at the government’s plan to raise the subsidized fuel prices.

Rikwanto said the city police had received notification of demonstrations by several groups on Monday to protest the fuel price hikes.

He said a meeting had been held by the city's high-ranking police officials to discuss possible rally locations, the number of people attending the rallies and the deployment of police officers to prevent the rallies turning violent.

The government plans to raise the subsidized fuel prices later this month, but it has attracted strong opposition from labor unions, students and other activists. (ebf)

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