Christmas brings Indonesians together

Christmas brings Indonesians together

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesia celebrated Christmas amid heightened security late on
Friday and Saturday due to reports of possible bomb attacks in
the capital and vandalism in the conflict-torn regions.

In Jakarta, a heavy downpour highlighted the serene and
peaceful atmosphere of the celebrations at over 120 churches
across the city, including the two largest the Jakarta Cathedral
and Immanuel Church in Central Jakarta.

Police worked together with community organizations --
including the Youth of Tanah Abang Mosque and the Red and White
Brigade (BMP) to guard the area outside the churches and direct
traffic, for which the chairman of the Indonesian Council of
Bishops (KWI), Cardinal Julius Darmaatmadja, expressed his
gratitude.

"I credit all Christians for their courage to still attend
mass amid the bomb threats ... I also thank all parties that took
part in protecting the churches," he said at the beginning of his
sermon at the cathedral.

Warnings from Western governments of possible Christmas
bombings had reportedly not only stopped people from attending
church services but also forced some churches to hold Christmas
Eve services at hotels, malls and office buildings.

Darmaatmadja encouraged the congregation to work together with
the new government to revive a sense of peace and security.

"We have seen people humiliated by several acts of violence
and discrimination ... natural resources have also been drained,
while corruption continues. All of these have created hatred ...
Many people have lost their places of worship, people feel
insecure."

Poverty, he added, should be considered "a disaster for us
all; as Christians we should eradicate poverty in solidarity."

In Serang, Banten, Protestant minister Benny Halim also called
on people to end violence and hostility toward one another.

In Palu, Central Sulawesi, where attacks against churches have
been a regular feature in the city in the past years, the calm
was marred by machete-wielding assailants on motorcycles who
attacked a Protestant minister, identified as Jhoni Tegel and his
friend Jemry Tembalino, in Masani village of the strife-torn Poso
regency. The minister was seriously injured in the attack.

Central Sulawesi Police chief Brig. Gen. Aryanto Sutadi said
that police had embarked on a manhunt for five suspects "who were
clad in T-shirts of the police mobile brigade," he said, adding
that the five were also carrying firearms.

In Ambon, a festive mood prevailed during Christmas's Eve when
thousands of the city residents took to the streets to witness a
fireworks display.

Christians and Muslims, who in the past years engaged in
bitter clashes, mingled in the streets rejoicing the return of
peace.

Ambon Police were out in force with over 500 personnel to
guard the celebrations. This was augmented by the deployment of
one company from the mobile brigade and two platoons of army
soldiers.

In Surabaya, no disturbances were reported during Christmas
celebrations apart from traffic congestion caused by over 40,000
people trying to gain access to Bethani Church, the largest
church in Southeast Asia.

Meanwhile, in Denpasar, Bali, a bomb scare overshadowed
celebrations as word circulated that explosives were planted at
an intersection in the city. The police declared the bomb threat
a hoax after a one-hour search.