SBY Orders Police to Guard Christmas Celebrations from Terrorist Threat

Jakarta Globe, Ezra Sihite, December 13, 2013

Shoppers watch a performer dressed as one of Santa elves at Grand Indonesia
Shopping Town in Jakarta on Dec. 12, 2013. (EPA Photo/Bagus Indahono)

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has warned of the possibility of terrorist attacks during the Christmas season that could be compounded by political tensions ahead of next year’s elections, saying he has ordered security forces to be on high alert in the coming weeks.

The president said at a conference in Jakarta on Thursday that he had received a report from Gen. Sutarman, the National Police chief, of “entities who have designed plans to disrupt security and order in certain places.”

“I have instructed to the vice president and related ministries to ensure that the security forces do their best to protect the series of Christmas and New Year’s celebrations,” he said.

All Indonesians, he emphasized, had a responsibility to ensure that their fellow citizens were able to celebrate their respective holy days in peace and safety.

Yudhoyono also warned that with legislative elections coming up in April and the rivalry between parties and candidates becoming more vicious, terrorist could try to mask their attacks as being politically motivated.

“This is a political year, and we are starting to see how heated the political situation in our country is becoming,” he said.

“It’s normal for the political atmosphere to warm up ahead of an election, but what’s important is that I’m calling on the political party elites and politicians to practice self-restraint.

“[Terrorists] may try to make it seem as though the attacks are related to the elections, when in fact that’s not the case,” the president said.

Sutarman said separately that police had increased their monitoring of potential terrorist activity “linked to any threats on places of worship.”

“We are also calling on the public to remain calm because the National Police will protect those who are celebrating Christmas as well as New Year’s Eve,” he said as quoted by Okezone.com.

Sutarman said some suspected terrorists under the police’s watch were known to be moving around from one location to another, indicating possible activity leading up to an attack.

“They may be making explosives. We have detected and monitored this,” he said, adding that police had made an undisclosed number of arrests.

Djoko Suyanto, the coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs, confirmed that police had carried out several arrests in recent days, but did not elaborate. He said on Thursday that security measures this year would be similar to those in previous years.

On Christmas Eve in 2000, a series of coordinated bombings by Islamist terrorists at several churches nationwide left 16 people dead and dozens injured.