(11/13/2011)
Visitors to Bali over November 15-20, 2011 will not help but notice the immense security precautions in place to safeguard 16 heads-of-state and official delegation on the island for the ASEAN and East Asia Summit.
From Saturday, November 12, 2011, Indonesian warships were already in patrol around Bali’s southern shores and U.S. Secret Service officer are steadily flowing onto the island to prepare for the visit of President Barack Obama.
Already in place along the Jalan By-pass Ngurah Rai highway heading towards Nusa Dua are groups of police officers placed at intervals of no more than 200 meters to ensure that the traffic keeps moving without delay. Further down the road, at the entrance to the Nusa Dua Complex where the Summit will be headquartered, every vehicle entering the area is being subjected to a rigorous inspection by combined teams comprised of military and police personnel.
Bali Post reports that when they entered the Hotel Melia at Nusa Dua, the combined protection squads inspected vehicles and individuals entering the hotel, questing visitors for details on their destination; asking them to state their business within the hotel. Similar teams are in place at the main hotels slated for use during the Summit:: Grand Hyatt, Laguna Luxury Collection, Ayodya, Westin, Novotel and Inna Putri.
A new entrance to Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport that opened on November 4, 2011, is proving a source of confusion to many motorists who are unfamiliar with the new entrance now relocated to the exit course. A lack of clear signage clarifying access to the new entrance is blamed for much of the current difficulties for those trying to decipher how to enter the airport.
In addition to the armada of Indonesian Navy ships on patrol in Bali, two patrol ships from the Indonesian Water Police (Polisi Air) are also on deployment in Bali during the Summit. Meanwhile, an extensive police and military presence has been put in place at Bali seaports of Gilimanuk, Padang Bai and Celukan Bawang
In total, an estimated 15,000 military and police personnel will be on duty in Bali during the ASEAN Summit. Equipment on standby include 16 ANOA armored personnel carriers; 6 helicopters, and a squadron of F-16s.
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