Military Anticipates Oil Smuggling

Jakarta, June 21 (Antara) - The army has made its personnel ready in the border regions to anticipate possible oil smuggling ahead of the planned oil price hike. "We have prepared two regular battalions plus territorial forces in East and West Kalimantan to anticipate possible fuel oil smuggling from the regions or other countries," army chief of staff General Muldoko said here on Friday. He said he had issued an order to his forces in the borders and across the country to secure the implementation of the government's plan to raise the prices of subsidized fuel oils. So, he will never hesitate to take action against any soldier found playing around with it, he said. "We have issued the order to secure the implementation of the government's policy and so no one must play around with it," he said. Muldoko said he had also assigned his forces to help anticipate possible demonstrations at vital objects such as filling stations. "The army is always ready to help and the commander of the defense forces has also built cooperation wit the police chief for it. We will follow suit," he said. (*)