ID :
154919
Mon, 12/27/2010 - 01:26
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/154919
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News Focus: HOLY NIGHT, SCARY NIGHT IN JAKARTA
By Vicki Febrianto
Jakarta, Dec 26 (ANTARA) - Christmas has been gloriously celebrated by faithful Christians in many major cities in the country, despite last Friday's rather scary.
On Sunday evening (Dec 26), Christmas has generally been peaceful as no reports of incidents were reported. Peace in Indonesia had been tightly maintained by 87,352 police personnel across the country under Operation Candle.
Under Operation Candle 2010, from December 24, 2010 to January 1, 2011, 32,232 churches across the country are given special police protections to enable the faithfuls to celebrate their holy days in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility, according to National Police Chief General Timur Pradopo.
The orders given to the security authorities are to maintain public order and security during Christmas eve and the days leading to New Year, General Pradopo says in a written statement read out by Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo at a roll call at the National Monument park on Dec 24.
The security measures are particularly tightened in Jakarta, Papua, Southeast Sulawesi, East Nusa Tenggara, North Sulawesi, North Sumatra, Central Sulawesi, Maluku, West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta, East Java and Bali.
"The situation was a bit scary to me, but it's all right for the sake of security," Frans Riyadi Wibowo said as he stood waiting to be searched at a check-point at the Cathedral Church's front gate in Central Jakarta Friday evening. Everyone was required to undergo bomb-searching procedure prior to entering the neo-Gothic style ancient church.
The pontifical mass, led by Bishop Monsignor Ignatius Suharso, last Friday evening was also attended by Vatican Ambassador to Indonesia Leopoldo Girelli.
At about the same time, some 150 policemen and representatives of social organizations were fielded to guard the service at the Immanuel Western Indonesian Protestant Church (GPIB), about 1 km from the cathedral across Jakarta's main railway station of Gambir.
"Security personnel are stationed in four main points around the church," Second Inspector Sukarmi, standing guard a few meters from the church's front fence said, adding the men had patrolled around the church since 2 pm on Friday.
Besides those on patrol, some police personnel had also been stationed at command posts.
Jakarta the focus
The Jakarta Metropolitan Police has been deploying 30,000 men to secure Christmas and New Year holidays, about a third of the total force deployed nationwide.
A total of 592 security posts have also been set up in West Jakarta (98), Central Jakarta (79), South Jakarta (39), East Jakarta (19), North Jakarta (7), Tangerang city (47), Tangerang district (30), Bekasi city (30), Bekasi district (12) and in Tanjung Priok (2).
The Jakarta Metropolitan Police has focused attention on the 1,642 churches in Jakarta and its three satellite towns. There are 147 churches in Central Jakarta, 192 in North Jakarta, 219 in West Jakarta, 185 in South Jakarta, 128 in Tangerang, 259 in Bekasi city, 123 in Bekasi district, and 116 in Depok.
As many as 592 security posts had been set up in West Jakarta (98), Central Jakarta (79), South Jakarta (39), East Jakarta (19), North Jakarta (7), Tangerang city (47), Tangerang district (30), Bekasi city (30), Bekasi district (12 and in Tanjung Priok (2).
In addition, Anti Terror Special Detachment 88 was maintaining close contacts with the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) on intelligence analysis about terror threats nationwide.
Terror attacks
The tightening of security during Christmas has in fact been something like a normal procedure in many cities in Indonesia, notably Jakarta. The police apparently do not want to take any risk as terror had once shattered the holy night when a series of terrorist attacks shocked Jakarta and some other cities on Christmas eve back in 2000.
As many as 16 churchgoers were killed while another 96 sustained injuries in a series of terrorist attacks on churches across the nation that night alone. And this year the police decided to even tighten Christmas security due to the arrest of some terrorist suspects in Kudus, Central Java, recently.
"Operation Candle is held to prevent terror," Jakarta Police Chief Inspector General Iskandar Hasan told the press at the National Jakarta Police Headquarters, December 6, explaining security precautions for Christmas and year-end festivities.
The British embassy in Jakarta in a travel summary posted on its website this week also asked travellers to be particularly vigilant during holidays such as Easter and Christmas, which can be a time of security disturbance in Indonesia. "In the past, attacks have occurred during holidays in Indonesia," it says.
In recent years, it added, the police announced tightened security precautions in public places such as airports and major tourist destinations during Christmas and New Year. Visitors are advised to exercise caution when visiting locations where large groups of people gather or known to be frequented by foreigners.
"As the threat of terrorism yesterday, several places of worship (churches in Central Java and Yogyakarta) became targets," Iskandar said, adding that cooperation had been established between the church communities and the police on the security precautions.
In addition the police will also station intelligence personnel and troops in places of worship. "In big churches, intelligence personnel and troops at the local regional police department will take stock of the threats," he said.
What was interesting in this year's Christmas celebrations, especially in Jakarta, the Front Pembela Islam (Islam Defenders Front, FPI), a mass organization earlier known as a militant group, has vowed to help secure the holy night and the other nights leading to New Year.
"Let the Christians celebrate Christmas in peace. It is their right and Indonesians should respect that," FPI chief Risieq Shihab said during a meeting with Police Chief General Pradopo last week.
"Whatever your religion, you have to respect each other. We respect Christmas and will help Christians to celebrate it in peace. We recognize the plurality of religion," the once controversial cleric said.
Jakarta, Dec 26 (ANTARA) - Christmas has been gloriously celebrated by faithful Christians in many major cities in the country, despite last Friday's rather scary.
On Sunday evening (Dec 26), Christmas has generally been peaceful as no reports of incidents were reported. Peace in Indonesia had been tightly maintained by 87,352 police personnel across the country under Operation Candle.
Under Operation Candle 2010, from December 24, 2010 to January 1, 2011, 32,232 churches across the country are given special police protections to enable the faithfuls to celebrate their holy days in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility, according to National Police Chief General Timur Pradopo.
The orders given to the security authorities are to maintain public order and security during Christmas eve and the days leading to New Year, General Pradopo says in a written statement read out by Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo at a roll call at the National Monument park on Dec 24.
The security measures are particularly tightened in Jakarta, Papua, Southeast Sulawesi, East Nusa Tenggara, North Sulawesi, North Sumatra, Central Sulawesi, Maluku, West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta, East Java and Bali.
"The situation was a bit scary to me, but it's all right for the sake of security," Frans Riyadi Wibowo said as he stood waiting to be searched at a check-point at the Cathedral Church's front gate in Central Jakarta Friday evening. Everyone was required to undergo bomb-searching procedure prior to entering the neo-Gothic style ancient church.
The pontifical mass, led by Bishop Monsignor Ignatius Suharso, last Friday evening was also attended by Vatican Ambassador to Indonesia Leopoldo Girelli.
At about the same time, some 150 policemen and representatives of social organizations were fielded to guard the service at the Immanuel Western Indonesian Protestant Church (GPIB), about 1 km from the cathedral across Jakarta's main railway station of Gambir.
"Security personnel are stationed in four main points around the church," Second Inspector Sukarmi, standing guard a few meters from the church's front fence said, adding the men had patrolled around the church since 2 pm on Friday.
Besides those on patrol, some police personnel had also been stationed at command posts.
Jakarta the focus
The Jakarta Metropolitan Police has been deploying 30,000 men to secure Christmas and New Year holidays, about a third of the total force deployed nationwide.
A total of 592 security posts have also been set up in West Jakarta (98), Central Jakarta (79), South Jakarta (39), East Jakarta (19), North Jakarta (7), Tangerang city (47), Tangerang district (30), Bekasi city (30), Bekasi district (12) and in Tanjung Priok (2).
The Jakarta Metropolitan Police has focused attention on the 1,642 churches in Jakarta and its three satellite towns. There are 147 churches in Central Jakarta, 192 in North Jakarta, 219 in West Jakarta, 185 in South Jakarta, 128 in Tangerang, 259 in Bekasi city, 123 in Bekasi district, and 116 in Depok.
As many as 592 security posts had been set up in West Jakarta (98), Central Jakarta (79), South Jakarta (39), East Jakarta (19), North Jakarta (7), Tangerang city (47), Tangerang district (30), Bekasi city (30), Bekasi district (12 and in Tanjung Priok (2).
In addition, Anti Terror Special Detachment 88 was maintaining close contacts with the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) on intelligence analysis about terror threats nationwide.
Terror attacks
The tightening of security during Christmas has in fact been something like a normal procedure in many cities in Indonesia, notably Jakarta. The police apparently do not want to take any risk as terror had once shattered the holy night when a series of terrorist attacks shocked Jakarta and some other cities on Christmas eve back in 2000.
As many as 16 churchgoers were killed while another 96 sustained injuries in a series of terrorist attacks on churches across the nation that night alone. And this year the police decided to even tighten Christmas security due to the arrest of some terrorist suspects in Kudus, Central Java, recently.
"Operation Candle is held to prevent terror," Jakarta Police Chief Inspector General Iskandar Hasan told the press at the National Jakarta Police Headquarters, December 6, explaining security precautions for Christmas and year-end festivities.
The British embassy in Jakarta in a travel summary posted on its website this week also asked travellers to be particularly vigilant during holidays such as Easter and Christmas, which can be a time of security disturbance in Indonesia. "In the past, attacks have occurred during holidays in Indonesia," it says.
In recent years, it added, the police announced tightened security precautions in public places such as airports and major tourist destinations during Christmas and New Year. Visitors are advised to exercise caution when visiting locations where large groups of people gather or known to be frequented by foreigners.
"As the threat of terrorism yesterday, several places of worship (churches in Central Java and Yogyakarta) became targets," Iskandar said, adding that cooperation had been established between the church communities and the police on the security precautions.
In addition the police will also station intelligence personnel and troops in places of worship. "In big churches, intelligence personnel and troops at the local regional police department will take stock of the threats," he said.
What was interesting in this year's Christmas celebrations, especially in Jakarta, the Front Pembela Islam (Islam Defenders Front, FPI), a mass organization earlier known as a militant group, has vowed to help secure the holy night and the other nights leading to New Year.
"Let the Christians celebrate Christmas in peace. It is their right and Indonesians should respect that," FPI chief Risieq Shihab said during a meeting with Police Chief General Pradopo last week.
"Whatever your religion, you have to respect each other. We respect Christmas and will help Christians to celebrate it in peace. We recognize the plurality of religion," the once controversial cleric said.
