Christmas celebrated peacefully across RI

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

With several communities concerned about the potential for violence, police officers across the country patrolled churches on Christmas Day to ensure the safety of the congregations.

Deputy chairman of the country's largest Muslim group Nahdlatul Ulama, Masdar Farid Mas'udi, wished Christians a merry Christmas through a written statement.

"We hope that the birth of Jesus Christ can truly bring blessings to our Christian brothers and sisters in particular, and all believers in the world in general," Masdar said.

Meanwhile, Din Syamsuddin, chairman of another prominent Islamic group Muhammadiyah, said Muslims should show respect to followers of other religions who were celebrating their holidays.

"Religion is a truth that its followers must believe in, but the difference between our faiths shall not prevent us from living side by side in peaceful harmony," said Din.

More than 2,500 Catholics, including Vatican Ambassador Leopoldo Giarellim, attended mass at Jakarta Cathedral on Tuesday morning.

The cathedral's spokeswoman, Grace Tanus, said the church had teamed up with local police to ensure security so they would not have to worry about anything during the Christmas celebrations.

"Besides, Christmas brings a message of peace to all. We were reminded that peace, love, fraternity and solidarity are what Christmas is all about," Grace was quoted as saying by Antara newswire.

The Holy Mass in the country's largest church also conveyed messages of democracy, poverty eradication, as well as war on global warming.

Cardinal Julius Rijadi Darmaatmaja said in his sermon during the mass that democracy would fail if the gap between the rich and the poor became larger. He told the congregation to get involved in poverty eradication activities.

"Christmas has to be a tool to bring prosperity to the poor people among us," he said.

Bishop Bratakartana, meanwhile, said Christians should be aware of the damage to the environment and do something to prevent further devastation of the earth.

In Bandung, some 100 interfaith figures from local Muslim, Protestant, Catholic, Hindu and Buddhist societies gathered at the city's cathedral and distributed white roses to the members of the congregation, in an attempt to promote peace and harmony among followers of different faiths, news portal detik.com reported.

The activity received a cordial welcome from Priest Leo Van Beurden, who said, "We are proud and touched by what you do; I hope God will cherish this country."

On Sulawesi Island, Christians in Makassar celebrated Christmas in a driving rainstorm. Besides attending masses at churches, they also held parties at their homes as a part of the celebration.

Makassar Police chief Sr. Comr. Genot Haryanto said security measures in South Sulawesi's capital were not as tight as in previous years, but the police remained on alert.

In the conflict area of Poso, Central Sulawesi, Christmas services ran smoothly with heavy security from fully armed police officers.

In Maluku's capital Ambon, Antara reported that dozens of Christians celebrated Christmas by setting off a large number of firecrackers across the town, despite appeals from local police chiefs and heads of churches not to set off fireworks during Christmas.

The Ambonese Christians also expressed their joy by riding around the town center in convoys, causing congestion along the main streets. (wda)

'Tolerance, equality' key to peace in Medan

Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan

Christians across Indonesia are placing their faith in security officers for a peaceful Christmas. In Medan, North Sumatra, trust in fellow community members of different religions and ethnicities seems to have been the bedrock of peace here.

On Sunday afternoon Seni Juniati Sinuraya and a number of young friends were still busy preparing Christmas ornaments at the Stasi Santo Paulus Catholic Church in the Padang Bulan area.

Twenty others were still in a meeting for preparations.

Chief organizer Juniati Sinuraya said there were no constraints so far in celebrating Christmas, for which mass will be held Monday evening and Tuesday morning.

Some 150 families will attend, he said, while organizers are working closely with security people and the surrounding community.

"Hopefully like each year there will be no disruptions," Juniati said. "Locals here are highly tolerant."

An anthropologist at Medan State University, Albinus Silalahi, said religious tolerance in the province was high compared to other areas in the country.

He said mutual appreciation of followers of different faiths here contributed to the continuing harmony in North Sumatra.

"Mutual appreciation ... is a strong factor here, made possible by a degree of equality in various areas of life," he said.

The lecturer cited a fairly equal proportion of different groups represented in the bureaucracy and in the private sector despite the dominance of Muslims, reaching over 65 percent.

Current governor Rudolf Pardede is Christian, while Provincial Secretary Muchyan Tambuse is Muslim.

The statistics bureau lists some 12.6 million residents of North Sumatra, comprising 11 ethnic groups.

Muslims make up 65.45 percent, Catholics number 4.78 percent, Protestants 26.6 percent, Hindus 0.19 percent, Buddhists 2.82 percent and "others" 0.14 percent.

Various religious celebrations have been known to be peaceful, Albinus added.

Police and special anti terror forces are nevertheless on the alert in and around the capital.

Medan Police chief Sr.Comr. Bambang Sukamto said security authorities were ordered to "shoot on sight" if necessary anyone suspected of attacking Christmas celebrations.

Christmas celebration prepared Bali-style

Prodita Sabarini, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar

A stone relief above the altar of a church in Bali's oldest Catholic community depicts a Balinese-looking Jesus accompanied by his twelve apostles, all wearing traditional Balinese dress.

In the relief at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, located in Tuka village, some 15 kilometers south of Denpasar, the apostles can be seen holding a gebogan -- a signature Balinese fruit offering.

"The relief and architecture of the church are Balinese," an activist from the Holy Trinity Church, Fransiscus Wayan Suwardi, said Thursday.

The church was constructed in Balinese style and the building resembles a customary meeting hall, with no walls.

Meanwhile, the Protestant Church at Padang Luwih Dalung also features Balinese architecture, with Balinese-inspired gates and carvings.

As a Catholic church activist, Suwardi, along with fellow comrades, was busy Thursday preparing for the Christmas celebration next week.

In Bali, international Christmas paraphernalia, like Christmas trees and Santa Claus, is an uncommon sight.

In the same way Catholics and Protestants the world over adorn their places of worship during the festive season, Balinese Catholics also celebrate the birth of Jesus and decorate in local style.

In a predominantly Hindu society, Balinese Catholics and Protestants hold dear their Hindu-influenced ancestral customs, incorporating Hindu-influenced customs to religious ceremonies.

"We use penjor (bamboo poles decorated with coconut leaves) to decorate the church and the congregation wears traditional Balinese attire to church," Suwardi said.

The lines of penjor in front of Bali's churches makes Christmas in Bali feels like the Balinese Hindus' Galungan day.

Suwardi said as well as preparing a Christmas play, the congregation had also prepared gebogan.

Gebogan is a decoration made from leaves which have been arranged and shaped into a wreath and decorated with fruits and flowers.

"In Hindu religion, all ornaments have a religious meaning. As Balinese, we take the traditional Balinese art and acculturate it to our ceremonies," Suwardi said.

"The penjor and offerings, however, do not have a religious meaning for Hindus. We use these to preserve our tradition."

Suwardi also said it was a way for Christians to hold on to their Balinese roots.

A priest from the Protestant church in Padang Luwih, Dalung, said Balinese used local paraphernalia, "so that people can feel Jesus is also here in Bali".

There are more than 10,000 Christians in Bali; a relatively small number compared to the three million Hindus.

The use of Hindu paraphernalia by Christians has caused some resentment from Balinese Hindus.

The former Catholic Foundation of Swastiastu, for example, is now called Insan Mandiri (self-help humanity), because Hindus invoke God with the phrase "Om Swastiastu".

Father Kristianus Ratu SVD from the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Tuka, however, said Balinese culture is very unique and the use of local culture is a way for Catholics to show their devotion to God.

"Jesus himself came to the world through culture. We should embrace the local culture to show our devotion to God," he said.