Thousand of worshippers attending a Christmas Eve Mass at Bethani Church in Surabaya, East Java. Heavy security at churches around the country enabled Christians in Indonesia to worship and celebrate mostly without incident this year. (AFP Photo)
Amid tight security, Christmas was marked peacefully with religious services and family parties in Jakarta and the rest of the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, police said on Friday.
“Christmas celebrations in Indonesia were safe and sound,” said National Police Chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri.
Normally, nothing happening might not be considered news. But with fears of terrorism and possible religious conflict still a concern here, the quiet celebrations are worth noting.
In Jakarta, churches were packed for Christmas Eve services on Thursday evening. Jakarta Cathedral overflowed with worshipers, many taking part from the church grounds.
The only reported incident occurred in Tambun, just east of Jakarta, where hundreds of people held a noisy protest in front of the Protestant Filadelfia Church demanding that a Christmas service there be halted because the church did not have a permit from local authorities. Police mediated the dispute, and the protesters allowed the service to proceed.
Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo, visiting the Protestant Immanuel Church on Thursday night, said he expected Jakarta to be a model of religious tolerance.
“I want Christians and Jakarta people to unite in pluralism,” he said, according to Antaran.
In North Jakarta, police were dispatched to guard several churches against a repeat of the church bombings that occurred in 2000. In some churches, metal detectors were used to screen worshippers as tight security has become routine this time of year.
Security was also in force in Medan, which has nearly 400 churches. Thousands of Christians celebrated in heavily guarded churches, some of them joined by members of Muslim groups.
Christians celebrated safely in the three main churches in Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh, where partial Shariah law is in force.
Aceh Police Deputy Chief Brig. Gen. Bambang Suparno said 3,000 personnel were deployed for the Christmas and New Year holidays in the province.
Following churches’ calls for low-key celebrations to avoid creating tension, celebrations in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, this year were kept indoors and did not involve the usual motorcade.
East Nusa Tenggara Police Chief Brig. Gen. Bambang Suedi said about 10,000 officers were deployed to safeguard Christmas and New Year’s Eve, although he said the main problems were general crimes, including drunkenness.
In restive Papua province, where police said they deployed about 8,000 officers, Christmas also proceeded peacefully.
“We are conducting a special operation during the Christmas celebrations, because we want people to feel safe and peaceful when they perform their religious processions,” Papua Police Chief Insp. Gen. Bekto Suprapto said.
The operation included the seizure of illegal liquor prior to Christmas as “most perpetrators are heavily influenced by alcohol prior to committing criminal actions,” Bekto said.
In Bali, Christmas celebrations were marked by local ceremonies that blended Balinese culture with the holiday. Many faithful wore traditional dress as they celebrated Mass at the Holy Trinity Church in North Kuta.
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