Muslim groups to guard churches over Xmas
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Members of several Muslim organizations will help guard churches over the Christmas and New Year period, a city official says.
The head of the Alert Division of the City Public Order Agency, Surbakti, said on Thursday that 14 organizations would deploy 7,700 personnel, including those from Muslim organizations such as Nahdlatul Ulama's (NU) youth wing Ansor.
Other Muslim organizations include the Mosque Youth group and the Islam Defenders Front (FPI).
Apart from Muslim organizations, the Betawi Association (Bamus Betawi), Betawi Brotherhood Forum (FBR) and Pancasila Youths will help 17,350 police and 7,000 public order officers assigned to secure churches and other strategic places in the capital.
"The deployment of NGO workers is expected to create a secure atmosphere during Christmas and New Year celebrations," Surbakti said after a meeting with NGO leaders at City Hall.
Intelligence reports suggested earlier that terrorist groups were planning to attack public places in the capital, including churches and shopping centers, to avenge the death of Azahari bin Hussin last month.
Azahari, along with Nurdin M. Top, had been accused of masterminding a series of terrorist attacks across the country, including the deadly 2002 and 2005 Bali attacks and the JW Marriott Hotel explosion in 2003 and the Australian Embassy attack in September 2004.
Nineteen people were killed on Christmas Eve in 2000, when bombs thought to be planted by members of Jamaah Islamyah exploded in dozens of churches across the country.
Surbakti said that all members of the organizations would work under the coordination of the city police and the City Public Order Agency.
A trial run involving city police, NGO workers and city public order officer will be held on Dec. 24.
"After the trial run, the security personnel will be deployed across the capital," Surbakti said.
City police operations chief Sr. Comr. Komang Udayana said earlier that the police would pay special attention to 2,000 areas over Christmas and New Year's, including 1,200 churches, embassies, malls, entertainment centers, hotels and resort areas.
Betawi Association deputy secretary-general Muhiddin Mochtar expressed readiness to deploy members of the organizations over the Christmas and New Year period.
"As an organization of native Jakartans, we are responsible for making the capital secure for its residents, regardless of race or religion," Muhiddin told The Jakarta Post on sidelines of Thursday's meeting.
He expressed optimism that the involvement of members of society in securing the holiday season would deter anyone wanting to carry out an act of terror or any other form of violence.