Three battalions of soldiers deployed to guard ExxonMobil

At least three battalions of soldiers have been deployed to guard ExxonMobil?s gas fields in Lhokseumawe, North Aceh from possible attacks from international terrorists and other irresponsible people, Kompas reported on Wednesday.

?There is nothing to worry because a larger number of soldiers have been posted to guard the company,? Let. Col. Firdaus, the chief of the army unit responsible for the security of ExxonMobil said about the army?s preparation to face possible terrorist attacks.

The Indonesian government has ordered the army to protect all the American assets in the country following the attack of the World Trade Center by international terrorists recently. ExxonMobil is one of major American companies operating in Indonesia.

Firdaus said that the soldiers at the gas fields had been deployed along before the attacks on the WTC building. He added the soldiers had been well prepared to meet every possible security disturbance.

ExxonMobil suspended its operation in March for at least three months following a number of attacks from the alleged members of the GAM separatist group in the province. The company resumed the operation in August after the government mobilized soldiers to protect the gas fields.

In a meeting with President Megawati Sukarnoputri in Houston early this week, the chairman of ExxonMobil Harry Well again appealed the Indonesian government to protect the gas company. (*)