Warna Warni Bali |

Ni Komang Erviani ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Denpasar, Bali   |  Sat, 07/18/2009 2:27 PM  |  National

In the wake of the hotel bombings in Jakarta on Friday, Denpasar police will ask local communities to help secure tourist areas across the Bali capital city and its neighboring regions.

“We will mobilize civilian forces in Badung and Denpasar to help us anticipate possible terror attacks on the city,” Denpasar police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. I Gede Alit Widana said after a meeting at the Bali police headquarters on Saturday.

Widana said the civilian guards, better known as pecalang, would help the police secure strategic locations such as restaurants, hotels, office buildings and housing complexes.

“Badung and Denpasar are considered international cities, due to the presence of tourists from all over the world there,” Widana said.

Badung is home to Kuta, the island’s most prominent tourist resort, which came under terror attacks twice in 2002 and 2005.