Security Concerns in Indonesia
Indonesia has been the center of terrorist activity over the last number of years. Security measures are in place in most major buildings, hotels, and shopping centers. A practice similar to low level airport security is used, where you have to walk through medal detectors, your bags are subject to physical inspection and security personnel use security wands as you pass through entrances. Cars driving into business complex or shopping center parking lots are checked as they enter.
Brief history of terrorist bombings in Indonesia since 2002.
2002 Car Bombing outside Bali nightclub. 202 people killed, and 209 injured.
2003 JW Marriot Hotel suicide bomber. 12 people killed, and 150 injured.
2004 One tonne car bomb outside Australian Embassy in Jakarta. 9 people killed, and over 150 injured.
2005 Suicide and car bombing in two sites in Bali. 20 people killed, and more than 100 injured.
2009 JW Marriot and Ritz Carlton Hotels. Separate suicide bombings 5 minutes apart. 7 people killed, 50 injured.
2016 Multiple explosions and gunfire in central Jakarta. 8 people killed, 23 injured.
A false sense of security?
A common security check when cars enter shopping or business centers consists of security personnel checking under the hood, inside the car, and using mirrors to look for explosives under the car. The level of security in Jakarta is somewhat questionable, as terrorist groups become much more sophisticated. I guess implementing some security measures is better than doing nothing!