December 31, 2002	Tuesday	Shawwal 26, 1423

HONG KONG, Dec 30: As revellers around Asia strap on their party hats and chill their drinks to welcome in the New Year, security forces across the region are gearing up for one of their most difficult assignments.

Thousands of people, many Westerners on holiday, will gather in public places across Asia to say goodbye to the outgoing year hoping to party but wary they could be the targets of similar terrorist attacks to those that have marred the past 12 months.

In a show of defiance, Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri is expected to see in the New Year at the Kuta tourist strip on Bali, where more than 190 people were killed on Oct 12 in the year’s most devastating terrorist attack.

More than 1,100 police officers will be deployed across Bali to prevent a repeat bombing, authorities said Monday, with thousands more sent to other popular holiday destinations and areas with Christian populations.

Thai authorities are planning the biggest holiday security operation ever seen in the kingdom with more than 300,000 people expected to gather in Bangkok alone to celebrate the New Year.

Tourist Police Commander Sanit Miphan said Monday that 10,000 police would be on duty in Bangkok with their focus on four nightlife and shopping districts that are expected to draw huge numbers of Thais and foreign tourists.

Sanit said the massive security operation was designed to make foreign tourists feel safe.

“We cannot say it will definitely not happen in Thailand,” Sanit said, in reference to a terrorist attack.

“But we can guarantee that we are providing tourists with a 100 percent security effort.”

Elsewhere in Thailand, Manit said local police would be in charge of security operations in popular tourist spots like the southern islands and the northern mountain regions.

Authorities in Singapore, which is also a target for regional terror network Jemaah Islamiyah as it strives for a pan-Islamic state in Southeast Asia, are planning a beach party on Sentosa island that is expected to attract 10,000 people.

Singapore police said last week that there was no current specific threat of a terrorist attack for New Year’s Eve, although they were planning intense security for the beach party.

“What we can say at this point is we are definitely beefing up security at this event,” Sentosa media communications executive Eileen Lee said.

“We feel there is a need for us to assure the public that they can party in a safe environment.”

Australia has suffered from a siege mentality since the Bali bombings because more than half the victims were tourists from Down Under.

That fear was highlighted last week when the government launched an anti-terrorist advertising campaign.

And authorities said Monday that record numbers of police would patrol Sydney, Australia’s most popular city, for New Year’s Eve to provide a visual deterrent to would-be attackers and an assurance to revellers.

In Afghanistan authorities said they had no fears of a specific threat although they would beef up security because New Year’s Eve was a significant date.

“It is the duty of police on occasions of Eid, Christmas, New Year to reinforce security. That’s our normal job,” Afghan Interior Minister Taj Mohammad Wardak said.

“We are quite confident about security in Kabul city, we don’t have any worries. Inshallah (God willing) this new year will be a good one for Afghans and for foreigners.”—AFP