9 Thousand Police Deployed to Guard PON Papua in October 2021

The Papua Regional Police have begun preparing for security ahead of the 2020 National Sports Week (PON) which will be held in October 2021. At least, 9 thousand police personnel are prepared for security later.

PON Papua is scheduled to be held on 20 October-2 November 2020. However, activities were postponed for one year due to the corona virus pandemic situation (Covid-19).

"Especially for the implementation of PON, we will involve around 8-9 thousand security personnel for security later," said Head of the Papua Police Operations Bureau, Kombes Pol Jeremias Rontini.

He said there were four areas where the implementation would be focused on security from the police.

For example, he said, Jayapura City and Regency will hold a number of sports competitions. Then, Timika and Merauke Regency will hold a match, and have quite high security and public order (Kamtibmas) disturbances.

"Especially for this armed group, there is a separate task force that handles this group," he said.

In the Timika area, he said, there are operational activities of PT Freeport Indonesia which will also have an impact on the implementation of PON 2020 later.

So far, Rontini said the Papua Police had prepared backups of security personnel from under the operational control (BKO) of the Mobile Brigade Corps (Brimob) and general duty police from Sabhara personnel.

"The four clusters (areas) are a priority for security, of course with us seeing the development of the social security situation," he said.

Papua hosted the PON after defeating Bali and Nangroe Aceh Darussalam in the election at the Central Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI) Annual Member Meeting.

KONI had opened the option to limit the number of viewers in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic at PON Papua which will be held from 2-15 October.

"If conditions have improved, this year's PON will be held like the previous PON. However, if the development of Covid-19 has not improved, the implementation will follow the directions of the Covid-19 Task Force," said Marciano Norman, quoted from the Central KONI website.

SOURCE: https://www.cnnindonesia.com/nasional/20210412123212-20-628758/9-ribu-polisi-dalang-kawal-pon-papua-oktober-2021