Muslim groups to guard churches over Xmas<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Members of several Muslim organizations will help guard churches
\nover the Christmas and New Year period, a city official says.<\/p>\n
The head of the Alert Division of the City Public Order
\nAgency, Surbakti, said on Thursday that 14 organizations would
\ndeploy 7,700 personnel, including those from Muslim organizations
\nsuch as Nahdlatul Ulama's (NU) youth wing Ansor.<\/p>\n
Other Muslim organizations include the Mosque Youth group and
\nthe Islam Defenders Front (FPI).<\/p>\n
Apart from Muslim organizations, the Betawi Association (Bamus
\nBetawi), Betawi Brotherhood Forum (FBR) and Pancasila Youths will
\nhelp 17,350 police and 7,000 public order officers assigned to
\nsecure churches and other strategic places in the capital.<\/p>\n
\"The deployment of NGO workers is expected to create a secure
\natmosphere during Christmas and New Year celebrations,\" Surbakti
\nsaid after a meeting with NGO leaders at City Hall.<\/p>\n
Intelligence reports suggested earlier that terrorist groups
\nwere planning to attack public places in the capital, including
\nchurches and shopping centers, to avenge the death of Azahari bin
\nHussin last month.<\/p>\n
Azahari, along with Nurdin M. Top, had been accused of
\nmasterminding a series of terrorist attacks across the country,
\nincluding the deadly 2002 and 2005 Bali attacks and the JW
\nMarriott Hotel explosion in 2003 and the Australian Embassy
\nattack in September 2004.<\/p>\n
Nineteen people were killed on Christmas Eve in 2000, when
\nbombs thought to be planted by members of Jamaah Islamyah
\nexploded in dozens of churches across the country.<\/p>\n
Surbakti said that all members of the organizations would work
\nunder the coordination of the city police and the City Public
\nOrder Agency.<\/p>\n
A trial run involving city police, NGO workers and city public
\norder officer will be held on Dec. 24.<\/p>\n
\"After the trial run, the security personnel will be deployed
\nacross the capital,\" Surbakti said.<\/p>\n
City police operations chief Sr. Comr. Komang Udayana said
\nearlier that the police would pay special attention to 2,000
\nareas over Christmas and New Year's, including 1,200 churches,
\nembassies, malls, entertainment centers, hotels and resort areas.<\/p>\n
Betawi Association deputy secretary-general Muhiddin Mochtar
\nexpressed readiness to deploy members of the organizations over
\nthe Christmas and New Year period.<\/p>\n
\"As an organization of native Jakartans, we are responsible
\nfor making the capital secure for its residents, regardless of
\nrace or religion,\" Muhiddin told The Jakarta Post on sidelines of
\nThursday's meeting.<\/p>\n
He expressed optimism that the involvement of members of
\nsociety in securing the holiday season would deter anyone wanting
\nto carry out an act of terror or any other form of violence.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/muslim-groups-to-guard-churches-over-xmas-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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