Papua Police Chief to Ensure Security for Jokowi

Jayapura, Papua (Antara) - Papua police chief Insp. Gen. Tito Karnavian said he will lead the police squad to ensure the security of presidential candidate Joko Widodo during his stay in this city on Saturday. Jokowi as the Jakarta governor better known, will lead a campaign team of his Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) ahead of the legislative elections on April 9. Police guard has been doubled for the security of Jokowi after President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono announced report of threats to security of certain presidential candidates that tighter security precaution is needed. In a relatively short time Jokowi has shot to popularity nation wide and is a strong favorite to win the presidential election in July this year. "I am told by the Papua police chief that he will lead the police force to ensure the security of Jokowi in Jayapura," chairman of the Papua branch of PDIP Komarudin said here on Friday. The police chief, however, did not say how many police officers would be assigned for that purpose, Komaruddin, who is chairman of the regional legislative assembly, said. Chairman of the Jayapura city branch of PDIP Didikus Rahamav said "everything has been ready for the political campaign. (*)