Christmas passes peacefully despite fear of terror attacks

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Despite the threat of terrorism, hundreds of thousands of Indonesians across the country packed full churches under tight security in what was regarded as a peaceful Christmas celebration on Wednesday.

A bomb threat made to a church in Pontianak, West Kalimantan and another in Medan, North Sumatra, and the discovery of a large cache of explosive materials in Palu, Central Sulawesi were the only incidents that marked an otherwise quiet holiday.

Security, however, was tight with about 300,000 police officers and soldiers manning churches, shopping malls and other public areas in cities throughout the country. Worshipers were frisked, bags were checked and in some churches metal detectors were installed at entrances.

Security members of other civilian groups from religious and political organizations were also seen guarding a number of churches in East Java and other areas.

The measures came in the wake of increased terrorist threats in the nation. More than 190 died in the Bali bombing in October, and 19 were killed on Christmas Eve two years ago when bombs exploded almost simultaneously at scores of churches across the country.

This year saw better security to safeguard churchgoers, and Jakarta saw thousands turning out to attend services at places of worship.

Some 9,000 people attended the Christmas Eve service at Central Jakarta's cathedral, which held three masses that lasted until midnight.

Churchgoers patiently queued as security personnel checked them with metal detectors at the cathedral's two main entrance gates.

"We do not have to worry too much as the situation is getting better," said the chairman of the Bishops Council of Indonesia (KWI), Julius Kardinal Darmaatmadja.

The cathedral employs its own security personnel and together with plainclothes police officers, they maintained security within the church.

Outside and elsewhere in Jakarta members of youth wings of political parties, religious groups and civilian organizations stood by or helped police direct traffic.

Churchgoers throughout the rest of Indonesia observed a similarly quiet, but tightly secured Christmas.

Christians in the predominately Hindu island of Bali shrugged off fear of another terror strike after Oct. 12, and attended Christmas Eve sermons in Denpasar.

The St. Joseph Church in Denpasar, known for its Balinese- style architecture, was packed with worshipers and hundreds had to listen to the sermon from outside the church.

"Our country received the most beautiful Christmas gift of all, and that is the cessation of hostilities agreement between the Republic of Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM)," said Father Subaga SVD in his sermon, referring to the recent peace accord signed recently.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri spent the last few hours of Christmas in the province of Papua, where she arrived for the first time on Wednesday evening.

Elsewhere, the occasional sound of exploding firecrackers marked a noisy but solemn Christmas in Ambon, the capital of Maluku, where Muslims and Christians fought each other for some three years before signing a peace accord last February.

However, foreigners remained cautious and few went to church, AP reported. "Many of my friends have left the country, but I am stuck here," said Matthew, an American citizen who was among the few foreigners at the All Saint's Church in Jakarta.

The United States, Britain and Australia have warned their citizens against attending church services or public gatherings on Christmas in Indonesia.

Western interests are seen at risk of terrorist attacks, especially after Bali, where most of the victims in the bombing were foreigners.

Police investigating the Bali bombing uncovered a network of hard-liners that they believe belongs to Jamaah Islamyiah (JI) -- a regional terrorist organization with alleged links to al-Qaeda.

Findings from the investigation have also pointed to the likelihood of JI's involvement in the Christmas bombings in 2000.

In another disturbing development, Central Sulawesi Police found on Wednesday a large cache of explosive materials of the same type used in the Bali bombing, but in a larger amount.

About 250 kilograms of ammonium nitrate -- a type of fertilizer that can be used to make explosives -- was found in the provincial capital of Palu.

Police found 10 sacks of ammonium nitrate inside a Kijang minivan, Antara reported. The driver was arrested, but police are still searching for the owner of the chemical. Frequent bomb blasts in the region have put at risk a peace deal to end years of sectarian clashes between Muslims and Christians.

Police are also investigating a bomb threat made to a cathedral in Pontianak, East Kalimantan, on Christmas Eve. A police bomb squad did not find anything after searching the church compound.

A similar incident occurred at the Charismatic Worship Service church in Medan, North Sumatra.