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.