Churches told to be proactive about security

BOGOR: In an effort to provide security during Christmas masses celebrated in churches throughout the country, the police are encouraging church officials, parking attendants and security guards to be more alert to suspicious looking visitors and to search them if necessary.

Bogor Police chief Snr. Comr. Anton Bachrul Alam told reporters on Wednesday that the police would meet church officials on Friday to discuss security for the Christmas masses. On Monday, the police will physically scour the churches.

Church officials, security guards and parking attendants are expected to be more proactive in taking precautions, such as searching suspicious people and immediately reporting them to the police.

The police will deploy 4,390 personnel during Christmas and New Year celebrations in the Bogor area, which also covers Sukabumi and Cianjur.

Anton said the police had not received any information about any bomb threats in connection with observance of Christmas.

Four people were killed in bomb explosions in a number of churches in Jakarta on Christmas Eve in 2000. --JP