Chief Security Minister Calls for Increased Prison Security

Jakarta (Antara) - Chief security minister Djoko Suyanto has asked the justice minister to increase security control at prisons following recent jail breaks. "We have been very concerned over what has happened in Batam. I have also given instructions to justice minister Amir Syamsudin with regard to Tanjung Gusta incident to step up alertness across all prisons," he told newsmen here on Thursday. More than 200 prisoners had escaped from Tanjung Gusta prison in Medan, North Sumatra, following rioting and fires in the facility recently but 105 of them had been recaptured. Eleven prisoners meanwhile had also escaped from a prison in Batam, Riau Islands, but two of them had been recaptured. The chief of the Riau Islands regional police command, Brigadier General Endjang Sudrajat, said that of the prisoners were involved in narcotics cases. Djoko said security alertness must be increased especially in connection with the management of working schedules for prison guards and break hours for prison guards and prisoners. "If necessary the number of prison officers is increased," he said, adding if the number of personnel is inadequate the ministry of justice could seek assistance from other agencies. (*)