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)