Surabaya is Safe: National Police Chief

Surabaya, East Java (Antara) -- National Police Chief of Indonesia General Sutarman said here on Monday that security situation in Indonesia, particularly in Surabaya, was good. "I can assure you that Indonesia is safe. There is no threat of any kind in Surabaya or East Java," he stated while visiting the families of the victims of the AirAsia flight that crashed. He made the statement in response to a recent warning issued by the U. S. embassy to American citizens regarding threats on banks and hotels connected to the U. S. in Surabaya, the provincial capital of East Java. With regard to the travel warning, he revealed that he planned to discuss it with the U. S. embassy. "On what basis have they issued this warning? I can assure you that Indonesia is safe from any security disruptions. Surabaya is safe. There is nothing to worry about," Sutarman reiterated. Earlier, the U. S. embassy noted that protecting U. S. citizens abroad was one of the priorities of that country's state department, and in view of that, it issued the latest warning about security conditions in Indonesia and other information U. S. citizens need to know when they plan to go abroad. "We have advised U. S. citizens abroad and those traveling abroad to register themselves with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive latest information on security conditions from the embassy," a U. S. embassy spokesman pointed out. According to Regional Police Command Chief of East Java Inspector General Anas Yusuf, he did not receive any official letter from the U. S. embassy on the issue. However, as a preventive measure, he has stationed personnel at locations frequented by U. S. citizens in Surabaya and East Java. "I have taken precautionary measures, but this warning from the U. S. embassy has nothing to do with the crash of AirAsia flight QZ8501," he affirmed. Furthermore, Mayor of Surabaya Tri Rismaharini also assured the safety of Surabaya. "Surabaya is safe. If anything happens, I will receive information. We have personnel stationed at all sub-districts who send updates every evening, even on power outages," she explained. (*) Reporting by Indra Setiawan/EDY M Ya'kub