'I feel much safer this year'<\/p>\n
Churchgoers who observed Christmas Eve felt more relieved that
\nthe police, in cooperation with social and religious groups as
\nwell as political organizations, safeguarded churches across the
\ncity. Some churchgoers shared their feelings after the Christmas
\nwith The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Agustinus, is a teacher who lives in Semper, North Jakarta,
\nwith his wife and two children:<\/p>\n
I felt much safer this year due to heightened security during
\ncelebrations on Christmas Eve. However, I cannot deny that I was
\nstill a little worried as I recalled the series of church
\nbombings two years ago.<\/p>\n
Therefore, I sat outside the church with my children in
\nanticipation of any such possible incident.<\/p>\n
In general, I must say that the police have improved security
\nmuch better. Besides, many bomb suspects have been arrested now.
\nThat's quite a relief.<\/p>\n
I hope that the police will maintain these security measures,
\nnot due to international pressure but because of their own
\nincreased awareness of the need for it.<\/p>\n
Far more important is how to create tolerance and
\nunderstanding between followers of different religions. Imposing
\na military approach will simply make people more scared.<\/p>\n
Yukti, 46, lives in Karanganyar, Central Jakarta. He lives
\nwith his wife and only daughter:<\/p>\n
Even though more police were deployed to safeguard Christmas
\ncelebrations this year, I still felt a little worried about
\npossible incidents.<\/p>\n
However, I got the impression there were many more police and
\nparamilitary civilian groups affiliated to other religious or
\nsocial organizations to guard Christmas celebrations.<\/p>\n
If I were a victim, I imagine trying to surrender to God as it
\ncould happen to me anytime. It's hard to erase the nightmare of
\nthe bombings two years ago? at churches across the nation.<\/p>\n
Pati Tambunan, 27, works in the entertainment business and
\nlives in Jatinegara, East Jakarta, with his cousins:<\/p>\n
I wasn't scared at all about attending the Christmas Eve
\nservice at my church. Should there have been a bomb, it would
\njust happen. It's up to God whether we survive or not.<\/p>\n
I still feel a bit traumatized when I remembered the incident
\ntwo years ago. I should have attended the service at my church,
\nbut some of my friends invited me to go to another church. I was
\nsaved, as I later heard my church had been bombed.<\/p>\n
This year, I feel more secure thanks to the police, who
\ncarefully safeguarded the service.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, it would be better if security procedures were
\nless burdensome, as the metal detector checks scare some
\nchurchgoers.<\/p>\n
I'm a bit annoyed by the tighter security here.<\/p>\n
Sadiyo, 49, is a retired sailor who lives in Juraganan, West
\nJakarta, with his wife and five children:<\/p>\n
Frankly, I've felt far safer observing Christmas this year
\ndue to the better security that has been provided.<\/p>\n
Besides, I am happy to see that many civilians and groups
\naffiliated to religious, social and political organizations have
\ntaken part actively in safeguarding Christmas.<\/p>\n
Tolerance between different religious believers is a relief at
\npresent.<\/p>\n
In previous years I was always worried about possible
\nincidents or bomb attacks perpetrated by radical groups.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/i-feel-much-safer-this-year-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}