OVER 4,000 SECURITY PERSONNEL TO SAFEGUARD WOC

Manado, May 8 (ANTARA) - A total of 4,416 security personnel will safeguard the World Ocean Conference (WOC) and Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) Summit in Manado, North Sulawesi.

National Defense Forces (TNI) and National Police (Polri) personnel from the provinces of South Sulawesi, Gorontalo, and North Sulawesi will be deployed to safeguard danger-prone areas in Manado during the WOC and CTI Summit from May 11-15, 2009, Wirabuana Military Command spokesman Captain Suparman said here on Friday.

He said security personnel would be deployed around the Convention Hall of Grand Kawanua City Hotel (GKIC) and other star-rated hotels where the heads of state and government and the guests from 121 countries would stay.

Other areas to be protected against security disturbance, according to Captain Suparman, are Sam Ratulangi International Airport, Manado sea port, entertainment centers, and other public places.

Meanwhile, WOC media center coordinator Roy Tumiwa said that success of the WOC and CTI Summit in Manado would entirely depend on the security situation.

Therefore, he said miltary and police security personnel would continue to intensify security precautionary measures at various danger-prone locations in the run up to and during the international events.

In addition to security matters, the government would also apply a permanent procedure (protap) in dealing with the A sub type H1N1 influenza to safeguard the WOC and CTI Summit.

Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari said in Jakarta recently that there would be a screening and management process at airports to deal with arriving foreign passengers with symptoms of Mexican Flu or influenza virus A sub type H1N1.

The health minister said arriving foreign passengers suspected of being infected with the A H1N1 virus would be examined at the airport health center before being sent to reference hospitals.

"Every suspected foreigner arriving in Indonesia should follow the regulations in the country," the minister said, adding that the government had prepared health centers, reference hospitals, and health workers to deal with the disease.

According to the minister, doctors and health workers at local clinics and hospitals had been briefed on the management of infectious diseases, including influenza A H1N1, known previously as swine flu.