Christians celebrate Christmas nationwide

Christians celebrate Christmas nationwide

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Christians celebrated Christmas in
solemn but peaceful apprehension Monday following a series of
bombing throughout the country on Christmas Eve that left at
least 15 people killed.

In Jakarta Archbishop Julius Cardinal Darmaatmaja urged the
government to take serious measures to deal with the bomb blasts
befall seven provinces.

"The government must not hesitate to crackdown on those
responsible for such a criminal act against humanity," he was
quoted as saying by Antara after attending a Christmas mass at
Jakarta's Cathedral, one of the bombing site.

He said he never received a bomb threat prior to the Christmas
eve bombing at the Cathedral.

He asked the entire Christians to forgive, maintain peace, and
build reconciliation and solidarity among all people regardless
of their racial and religious backgrounds.

Elsewhere throughout the country Christians managed to attend
Christmas masses albeit under heavy security protection.

In Ambon, capital of Maluku, no significant disturbance has
been recorded as military's armed vehicles roamed the city since
Saturday night.

Maluku is the site of two-year long conflict between Muslims
and Christians that has cost more than 5,000 lives and half-a-
million of refugees.

In predominantly Muslim Makassar, about half-a-million
Christians celebrated Christmas in some 70 churches in the city.

A Christian priest D. Sopamena told The Jakarta Post that the
Christians in the city were thankful to local Muslims who had
made this happen.

Muslims were seen guarding a number of churches in the city.
The Mangamaseang (GPIB) church on Jalan Urip Sumihardjo, for
example, were guarded by neighboring Muslims without being asked
to do so.

Sopamena said he believed there was no significant increase in
the number of security officers.

"We feel secure not because of the presence of security
officers, but because of the support of the Makassar people
itself," he said.

In mountainous East Java town of Malang, Christians attended
Christmas masses peacefully.

City police chief Nicolaus Eko Riwayanto said he deployed his
forces in a number of churches in the city.

In predominantly Hindu Bali, Christmas celebrations took place
without an incident. Traffic was light in Denpasar Monday
including the usually congested areas in its major roads.

In predominantly Christian city of Manado, North Sulawesi,
thousands of believers thronged the many churches in the city.
Masses in the city's churches were held from morning up to late
at night.

In another predominantly Christian city of Jayapura, capital
the eastern most province of Irian Jaya, Christmas was celebrated
peacefully from Saturday evening upto Monday.

The city was the site of a rash of unrests in recent months
following a heightened demand of separation from Indonesia by the
local Papuans.

In Yogyakarta, thousands of Catholics attended churches in
peace.

A bomb exploded in the city's hospital recently, injuring at
least one people.

"We need to exercise wisdom and control our emotions in view
of the latest spate of bombings in places of worships," Antara
quoted Catholic priest Jayasewaya as saying.

In South Kalimantan capital of Banjarmasin, security officers
guarded a number of churches but their presence was hardly
visible.

In this city, security officers guarded all churches including
those where no masses were held.

Asst. Supt. Taufik Sugiyono said more than a thousands
personnel were deployed in the city.

In West Sumatra province police deployed anti-bomb squads in
16 churches in the city suspected to become possible bomb
targets.

West Sumatra police chief Brig. Gen. Didy Kusumayadi told
Antara that the churches include those in Padang, Mentawai,
Bukittinggi, Pariaman, Padang Panjang, Sawahlunto, Pasaman and
Payakumbuh.

The action was taken following an instruction from the police
chief to take whatever preventive action possible, he said.

In Atambua, a town bordering East Timor, thousands of
Catholics celebrating Christmas in the town's cathedral were not
aware of the spate of bombings on the Christmas eve.

Many of the 10,000 faithfuls who congregated at the local
cathedral were shocked to learn about it from the priest who led
the masses and offered prayers for the bomb victims.

Protestants also offered the same prayers in another church
which is still being renovated.

At least 15,000 refugees from East Timor who lived in Atambua
attended the masses together with the locals. (hbk/27,49)