'Hopefully religious harmony will return'

With the forced closure this year of some places of worship in the country causing public concern, the provision of extra security at churches at Christmas time by Muslim organizations has raised hopes of religious tolerance. The Jakarta Post asked some people in the capital for their views on the issue.

Amanda, 26, is an employee of an oil company in Central Jakarta. She lives in a rented house in Pejompongan, also in Central Jakarta:

I am not a Christian but I am of the belief that Christmas brings something good to the world every year. This time I hope Christmas will make all people, regardless of their religion, respect each other so that religious harmony will once again return to Indonesia.

I hope no churches are closed down by people who think that is their God-given right. It saddens me to see that we don't have religious freedom here. We are already poor, so, if we can't even practice our religion, then what is free here?

I believe that the majority of people are still very much tolerant of religious differences. However, often we are ignorant of what happens to our countrymen. I hope the peaceful Christmas this year brings us to realize the beauty of living in religious harmony.

Susanti Salim, 32, is a store owner at the Bekasi market in West Java. She lives with her husband and children in Cibubur, East Jakarta:

As a Chinese Christian, I still have bad memories of what happened in May 1998 to many of us. A group of people burned down our shop and no security officers came to stop them.

Recently, an SMS threatening us circulated among traders in Bekasi. I was very afraid that the May incident would happen again. Fortunately, nothing came of the threat.

As Christmas is synonymous with peace, I hope the spirit of Christmas this year will wash the hatred from people's hearts, so we can work hand-in-hand to build our country.

-- The Jakarta Post