E. Java police to step up security during Xmas

SURABAYA: East Java provincial police chief Ins. Gen. Sutanto has called on Muslims and Christians to intensify their joint efforts to maintain security ahead of the Christmas holidays, which last year saw a spate of bomb attacks by suspected Muslim terrorists on Christians and their holy worship areas.

"The police will involve Muslims and Christians to maintain the security over Christmas. This mutual respect will be good for our nation," he said here Thursday in response to questions about what the police had done to prevent the Christmas celebration from being marred by the terror which took place throughout the province last year.

He added that the police would secure churches on Christmas Day and mosques during Idul Fitri.

"We'll work together with Christian and Muslim youths to keep this province disorder-free and foster religious togetherness," he added.

Most of the bombing cases from last year remain unsolved and the perpetrators are still presumed to be roaming freely in Indonesia. --Antara