Christians undeterred in celebrating Xmas

Christians undeterred in celebrating Xmas

Annastashya Emmanuelle, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

With last year's Christmas Eve bombings and other church
attacks still fresh in people's minds, most regular church-goes
still intend to attend services on Christmas Eve regardless.

Christmas is somewhat incomplete without attending services
with family and friends, they say, and, despite last year's
tragic events, most are putting their trust in the police and
hope to have a joyous Christmas.

The city police will deploy 14,000 personnel to guard churches
in Jakarta on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, to prevent a
reoccurrence of last year's acts of terror.

"I must confess there is some concern, but when I think about
celebrating Christmas with family and friends, I don't worry so
much anymore," said Adrianus Daniel Baka, who was attending
Christmas Eve services at Jakarta Cathedral when a bomb exploded
outside the cathedral compound last year.

Daniel recalled that people scattered in panic and the
situation in the cathedral was chaotic.

"I thought it was a huge firecracker, I didn't immediately
realize that a bomb had exploded at our church," Daniel said on
Saturday.

Another member of the congregation at the cathedral, 26-year-
old Thomas Erick Rea, reiterated the same sentiment and refused
to be beaten by fear.

"Whatever happens, happens according to God's will. If God
allows injury to befall us, then we shall accept that no matter
how difficult it may be," he told The Jakarta Post.

Erick has decided to assist with security this year and will
help officers conduct checks at the entrance to the cathedral.

"Last year when the bomb exploded and people were running
about in a panic, there was not much that I could do but try to
calm people down, telling them it was probably just
firecrackers," he said.

Nevertheless, Erick's heart sank when he found out that one of
his friends suffered burn injuries when she went running across
the street.

"We've never understood how and why people commit such hurtful
things. All we can do is to hope for the best this year," he
added.

Several bombs exploded outside three churches in the city,
namely at the Jakarta Cathedral and Canisius Church, both in
Central Jakarta, as well as at Santo Yoseph Church in East
Jakarta.

The explosions killed two church-goers and a cigarette seller.

One bomb was defused by the police bomb squad at an Anglican
church in Central Jakarta.

At least 15 people were killed and more than 22 people injured
in Christmas Eve bomb explosions across the country last year.

In July this year, another bomb exploded at Santa Anna Church,
seriously injuring dozens of people.

Yet none of the victims have been deterred from attending
Christmas services this year.

Budi Nasko, who spent one month in hospital after half of his
left leg was amputated, said he trusted that the police would be
able to secure churches and that he would have nothing to worry
about.

"I hope they won't bomb churches again. But we must be able to
accept whatever happens to us, good or bad. I don't believe God
will desert us in a time of despair," he said.