SECURITY GUARANTEED DURING CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 25 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian National Police have guaranteed the security of the Christian community during Christmas celebrations at some 135,000 churches across the country on Monday night and Tuesday.          Protestant Christians and Catholic Christians, who respectively account for 9.2 percent and 3.5 percent of the country's 240 million population, were able to celebrate this year's Christmas Eve peacefully.         "There has been no security disturbance until now, and Christmas is being celebrated peacefully," said Brig Gen Boy Rafli Amar, the head of the public relations bureau at the Indonesian Police Headquarters, here on Tuesday.          "The Christmas Eve celebrations also went by peacefully on Monday night," he added.          The National police deployed a total of 82,633 security personnel this year to step up security during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.            "The police have divided the country into two priority regions. Top priority has been given to 14 regions, namely North Sumatra, Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, East Java, Bali, East Kalimantan, Papua, Yogyakarta, East Nusa Tenggara, Southeast Sulawesi, North Sulawesi, Maluku and Central Kalimantan,¿ National Police head of public relations division, Senior Commissioner Agus Rianto, noted.           As many as 3,000 security posts have also been set up as part of Candle Operation 2012, starting December 23 through January 1, 2013.          According to Agus, the security situation across the country has been satisfactory on Christmas Eve.          "Based on the information collected from police officials involved in Candle Operation 2012, thank God, everything is under control," he continued.          "Christmas celebrations have already begun since this afternoon, especially at churches across the nation. The celebrations will continue late into the night and again resume tomorrow," he said on Monday night.          He stated that the police had implemented special measures in cooperation with church committees to ensure security during the celebrations.          Meanwhile, Boy Rafli said a home-made bomb was founded in front of a traditional market in Poso, Central Sulawesi province, which has seen sectarian conflicts over the past several years. However, he added, the security situation in the region was under control.  "Poso is safe. We have managed to locate the home-made bomb in front of the Pasar Sentra market," Boy said.           Poso is now considered safe because security officers have already defused the home-made bomb found in front of the Poso Central Market.          "The bomb was in the form of a five-litre red-coloured jerrycan, which was placed inside a backpack," the chief of Central Sulawesi Regional Police Office, Brigadier General Dewa Parsana, said in an SMS sent from Poso on Tuesday.           When the police officers opened the backpack, they found a mobile phone (which was used as the bomb¿s timer), urea nitrate flour, hundreds of 13cm nails and two detonators.          Parsana noted that the bomb squad of the Central Sulawesi Police defused the bomb at 7am local time.           He said the bomb was supposed to detonate at 7.30am. After the bomb was defused, it was taken to the Poso Resort Police Office for further investigation.          Earlier, there were rumours that the family of former terrorist Amrozi, who was sentenced to death in 2008 for his involvement in the Bali bombings, would launch bomb attacks during Christmas and New Year celebrations.          When asked to comment on the rumours, Boy said the police would remain vigilant against any possible attack.          However, in general, security could be guaranteed because police personnel were guarding churches across the nation during the celebrations.          At the Immanuel Church in Central Jakarta, for example, a total of 161 security personnel were deployed to ensure security during the Christmas Eve Mass.       "In total, 161 personnel from mass organizations, the Public Order Agency and the police have been deployed there," Metro Gambir police head, Adj. Sr. Comr. Tatan Dirsan Atmaja, said.           The mass organizations involved in the security effort were Banser  "the youth wing of the country's largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU)" and the New Indonesia People's Movement (GRIB).           Tatan stated that the Jakarta Police's Gegana bomb squad members combed the church at 10am on Monday in anticipation of any terror activity ahead of the Christmas celebrations.          "The Gegana team combed the church at the request of the church's Christmas celebration committee," he said.          Meanwhile, the security situation in many provinces across the nation was reported to be satisfactory. In Bali province, the country's top tourist destination which suffered terrorist attacks twice over the past decade, Christmas celebrations went smoothly.          Bali faced two bomb attacks -in 2002 and in 2005- in which hundreds of people, mostly foreign tourists from Australia, were killed.          Bali Police personnel guarded 91 churches to ensure security during the celebrations. "We sent at least 15 personnel to provide security to churchgoers during the services. The operations were carried out openly as well as secretly," said Sr. Comr. Wayan Sunartha, the chief of Denpasar's City Police Headquarters.          Similar security arrangements were made in Papua, a province that often sees unidentified armed men attack security officers and others.           Papua Police deployed 3,793 personnel across the districts and cities in the region to ensure security during Christmas and New Year celebrations.          "We have stepped up security ahead of the Christmas and New Year celebrations through Operasi Lilin (Candle Operation) in the region, starting Sunday (December 23) through January 1, 2013," Papua Police spokesman, Adj. Sr. Comr. I Gede Sumerta Jaya, said.          He stated that police officers would monitor the distribution of alcoholic drinks and firecrackers ¿because those things often lead to problems and discomfort the public¿.     "The Papua police chief has called on the region's people to assist the police in maintaining security in the region, because safety and security are not solely the responsibility of the police," Sumerta pointed out.          In North Sumatra, Police Chief Inspector General Wisjnu Amat Sastro stated that 2,525 security personnel had been deployed across the province to enhance security during Christmas and New Year celebrations.           "The security officers have been deployed jointly by the Indonesian Defence Forces (TNI), the police and other related agencies to guarantee security during the festivities," he said.           According to Wisjnu, the 2013 security operation will involve deployment of police personnel to areas that are prone to traffic jams, landslides and crimes. The operation will focus on providing security at churches, entertainment and tourism spots, as well as other important places.          "We need to improve security in all areas where there might be a crowd, including churches. Those conducting religious services will feel safe and comfortable because they will be guarded by police officers," he noted.***1*** (T.A014/INE/a014) (T.A014/A/KR-BSR/A/A014) 25-12-2012 20:51: