APEC-Balinese People Asked To Support APEC Meeting

Denpasar, Bali, Oct 1 (Antara) - Bali Provincial Legislative Assembly (DPRD) Chairman Anak Agung Ngurah Oka Ratmadi has called on the people of Bali to support the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting being held from October 1 to 8 in Nusa Dua. "We ask all people in Bali to support the success of this international event in order to project a positive image for the participants," Ratmadi said here on Tuesday. He noted that the APEC meeting will be held in Nusa Dua, but all regions on the island resort of Bali should be safe and under control, because the delegations from the participating countries will visit some tourist attractions including the Taman Ayun temple. "Therefore, we call on all people in Bali to support the success of the meeting that will be attended by 21 heads of state/government," he said. Meanwhile, security has been tightened in the districts of Tabanan and Badung in the Bali province ahead of the APEC meeting. "We tightened the security with the help of the Ditrict Military Command personnel and have checked every motor vehicle plying on the main roads to find any sharp weapons or drugs," Tabanan resort police spokesman Adjunct Senior Commissioner Dekananto Eko Purwono stated earlier on Tuesday. He noted that all motor vehicles entering the area of Tabanan were being checked to ensure security at the APEC meeting. "We are checking all motor vehicles in our effort to create a peaceful situation in Bali during the APEC meeting," Purwono said. Meanwhile, TNI and police officials were also deployed around the three entry points of the Bali Tourism Development Corporation (BTDC) in Nusa Dua, which is the main venue for the APEC meeting. TNI and police officials were seen guarding the around the north gate on Pratama Street, which is the main gate and the south gate on Tuesday. Motorists without special identity cards from APEC have been forbidden from entering the BTDC area.