Int'l yacht sail under tight security in Indonesia after bombing

JAKARTA, July 23 (Xinhua) -- A tight security has been imposed for the upcoming international sails of yachts and ships in Manadoof North Sulawesi, Indonesia on Aug.12-20, the committee of the event said here Thursday.

Indonesia has raised up security alert to the top level in Jakarta and other cities potential for terrorist attacks following the suicide bombings in the two luxurious hotels in Jakarta on July 17, which killed 9 people and injuring 55 others.

Over 3,000 security guards and scores of participating warships, including the USS George Washington aircraft carrier, would secure the event named the Bunaken sail 2009, in which over 7,000 sailors from 20 countries, such as the United states, Canada, the United Kingdom, Netherland, Australia and Switzerland, would take part in, the secretary of the event committee Aji Sularso said.

"We impose maximum security alert with full scheme security or top alert," Sularso told a press conference.

The southeast Asia largest economy has been suffering from a series of terrorist attacks since 2000, including Bali bombings in 2002 and 2005, JW Marriot Hotel blasts in Jakarta in 2003, Australian Embassy explosion in 2004.

The Southeast Asia militant network of Jemaah Isamiyah has been blamed for the acts.

Sularso said that the security would involved 2,200 police, including the police anti-terror squad, and 500 personnel from Navy and scores of others from the Army.

So far 122 ships with 420 crews from 20 countries have entered Maluku waters, Sularso said.

The Sail Bunaken would involve warships, government ships, tall ships and yacht.

Among the event activities are fleet review, yacht rally and race as well as the breaking world record of diving with 1500 divers, sea food festival and expo, bike touring and cultural performance.