Indonesia to deploy over 10,000 security guards to secure SEA Games

JAKARTA (Xinhua) -- Indonesia is to deploy 10,886 armed forces officers during the Southeast Asian games (SEA Games) from Nov. 11-22, police said here on Monday.

The officers comprised of about 6,886 policemen, 3,000 military officers and 1,000 local security guards, said Sujarno, head of bureau of personal of the Jakarta police headquarters.

"The security would be done from the hotels where the athletes and officials stay up to the location of the competition," he said at the police headquarters.

Sujarwo said that a meeting involving all shareholders, including the police, military and the committee of the games would be held to coordinate the work.

So far, terrorism was still the main threat of the games, he said.

"The threat of terrorism is still the main priority of the integrated security during the SEA Games in Indonesia," said Sujarwo.

Indonesia has been hit by a series of small-scale terrorist strikes for the last two years, killing tens of people and wounding dozen others.

The police said that mass gathering was still the main target of the militants.

Thousands of athletes and officials from eleven Southeast Asian countries are to come to Indonesia to take part in the games.

The Southeast Asia Games is a biennial multi-sport events involving participants from the current 11 countries of Southeast Asia. The games is under regulation of the Southeast Asian Games Federation with supervision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Council of Asia.

Indonesian Sports and Youth Minister Andi Mallarangeng said he was optimistic that the preparations for the Southeast Asia Games would meet the deadline despite problems in the construction of almost all the venues.

Many have expressed doubts over preparations for the games. Three sporting venues, for swimming, athletics and shooting, are still in the construction phase.

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