Christians undeterred in celebrating Xmas<\/p>\n
Annastashya Emmanuelle, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
With last year's Christmas Eve bombings and other church
\nattacks still fresh in people's minds, most regular church-goes
\nstill intend to attend services on Christmas Eve regardless.<\/p>\n
Christmas is somewhat incomplete without attending services
\nwith family and friends, they say, and, despite last year's
\ntragic events, most are putting their trust in the police and
\nhope to have a joyous Christmas.<\/p>\n
The city police will deploy 14,000 personnel to guard churches
\nin Jakarta on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, to prevent a
\nreoccurrence of last year's acts of terror.<\/p>\n
\"I must confess there is some concern, but when I think about
\ncelebrating Christmas with family and friends, I don't worry so
\nmuch anymore,\" said Adrianus Daniel Baka, who was attending
\nChristmas Eve services at Jakarta Cathedral when a bomb exploded
\noutside the cathedral compound last year.<\/p>\n
Daniel recalled that people scattered in panic and the
\nsituation in the cathedral was chaotic.<\/p>\n
\"I thought it was a huge firecracker, I didn't immediately
\nrealize that a bomb had exploded at our church,\" Daniel said on
\nSaturday.<\/p>\n
Another member of the congregation at the cathedral, 26-year-
\nold Thomas Erick Rea, reiterated the same sentiment and refused
\nto be beaten by fear.<\/p>\n
\"Whatever happens, happens according to God's will. If God
\nallows injury to befall us, then we shall accept that no matter
\nhow difficult it may be,\" he told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Erick has decided to assist with security this year and will
\nhelp officers conduct checks at the entrance to the cathedral.<\/p>\n
\"Last year when the bomb exploded and people were running
\nabout in a panic, there was not much that I could do but try to
\ncalm people down, telling them it was probably just
\nfirecrackers,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, Erick's heart sank when he found out that one of
\nhis friends suffered burn injuries when she went running across
\nthe street.<\/p>\n
\"We've never understood how and why people commit such hurtful
\nthings. All we can do is to hope for the best this year,\" he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
Several bombs exploded outside three churches in the city,
\nnamely at the Jakarta Cathedral and Canisius Church, both in
\nCentral Jakarta, as well as at Santo Yoseph Church in East
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
The explosions killed two church-goers and a cigarette seller.<\/p>\n
One bomb was defused by the police bomb squad at an Anglican
\nchurch in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
At least 15 people were killed and more than 22 people injured
\nin Christmas Eve bomb explosions across the country last year.<\/p>\n
In July this year, another bomb exploded at Santa Anna Church,
\nseriously injuring dozens of people.<\/p>\n
Yet none of the victims have been deterred from attending
\nChristmas services this year.<\/p>\n
Budi Nasko, who spent one month in hospital after half of his
\nleft leg was amputated, said he trusted that the police would be
\nable to secure churches and that he would have nothing to worry
\nabout.<\/p>\n
\"I hope they won't bomb churches again. But we must be able to
\naccept whatever happens to us, good or bad. I don't believe God
\nwill desert us in a time of despair,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/christians-undeterred-in-celebrating-xmas-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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