Indonesia Bars Police, Soldiers from Pokemon

Jakarta, 16 Syawal 1437/21 July 2016 (MINA) -Indonesia’s police and military have banned their members from playing the popular virtual-reality game Pokemon Go, and warned that their premises are off limits to other gamers.

“We are worried that officers will get addicted to the game and forget to do their job to serve people,” national police spokesman Brigadier General Boy Rafli Amar was quoted by AAP as saying.

The ban came after a Frenchman was arrested and released after he inadvertently entered a military base while hunting for Pokemon in the West Java town of Cirebon

Amar said non-police gamers are also banned from entering police premises to catch Pokemon.

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“We have to be cautious against those who may use Pokemon Go as a disguise for other purposes.”

He cited the threat of militant attacks, such as a suicide bombing in a police station compound in the city of Solo earlier this month, as one of the considerations.

Navy personnel have also been prohibited from playing Pokemon Go, Navy chief Admiral Ade Supandi said.

“It’s not allowed for security reasons,” he said. “The game uses GPS and video streaming and sends location details,” he was quoted as saying by Viva.co news website.

A 27-year-old Frenchman was playing Pokemon Go while jogging late Monday when he inadvertently entered the garrison in Cirebon, West Java province, police said. He was released hours later.

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Pokemon Go is not officially available in Indonesia but there are ways to download the game from internet.

Indonesian officials have also banned the playing of Pokemon Go from the presidential palace.

Hastily printed warnings that say “Playing or hunting Pokemon prohibited in the palace area” were put up around the palace complex in Jakarta on Wednesday.

“This is the office of the president, not a playground,” said Bey Machmuddin, chief of the palace’s press bureau.

Last week, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Agung said he had captured a number of Pokemon at the palace. But some officials have voiced worries that the game could be a security risk. (T/R07/R01)

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Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)