Nation marks Xmas in peace
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Christmas celebrations across the country proceeded peacefully on Wednesday and Thursday amid the heightened presence of police.
Security conditions in Poso, Central Sulawesi, and Ambon, Maluku -- two areas plagued by sectarian conflicts between Christians and Muslims over the past five years -- were calm, and Christians in those areas marked the Lord Jesus' birth freely.
In Tentena, Poso, where dozens of innocent people were killed in renewed violence in mid-October, Christians thronged to heavily guarded churches on Wednesday evening and Thursday morning for Christmas Mass.
A low explosive went off in Poso on Tuesday, but no casualties were reported and the situation remained calm.
Local authorities also increased police personnel at each security post from 10 to 15, especially in coastal areas where Christians live alongside their Muslim neighbors.
Over 2,000 innocent people have died since 2000, when Poso plunged into bloody religious conflicts.
In Ambon, Maluku, where over 5,000 people have died since the first sectarian conflict broke out in January 1999, the situation was also peaceful, with no reports of renewed conflicts.
Christmas in Jakarta also passed without incident, with churches filled to bursting on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Addressing some 3,000 Catholics at Jakarta Cathedral, Cardinal Darmaatmadja called on all Christians on Thursday to stand united and develop a culture of unconditional love for each other and a sense of solidarity.
"The principal creed of Christianity is love, and it is mankind's duty to bring love to every occasion, be it happiness or sorrow," said Darmaatmadja, who is also chairman of the Bishops Council of Indonesia (KWI).
He said many people nowadays used their abundant blessings and prominent ability to frustrate, instead of helping, others.
"Everything in this world is God's, and it's given to all of us. This is what we often forget, that we keep many things for ourselves without sharing.
"We're living in a sick nation today, where we view people according to returns and benefits. We lack a true love, so that we are suspicious when people do good things for us, wondering if there are any strings attached," he said.
Cardinal Darmaatmadja also said paying more attention to the poor and destitute was noteworthy.
"They're the ones who usually cannot pay back whatever is given to them. It shows an unconditional love that asks for nothing in return," he said.
"We'll fall apart if we put our individual interests first; but if we fight for our collective interest, we'll also receive individual benefits, although probably on a much smaller scale."
Christians in Medan, North Sumatra, also had a safe Christmas, with church services and mass proceeding undisturbed.
Some congregation members, however, said they were worried about possible terrorist attacks similar to the 2000 Christmas Eve bombings.
A police officer in charge of guarding a church on Jl. Sudirman concurred: "The majority of congregation members are still worried about possible bomb explosions like the 2000 bombings, so we have to tighten security."
Bomb explosions rocked dozens of churches across the country on Christmas Eve 2000, killing dozens of innocent lives. Police blamed the coordinated attacks on regional terrorist network Jamaah Islamiyah (JI), the same group believed to be behind the Oct. 12, 2002 Bali bombings and the Aug. 5, 2003 JW Marriott Hotel attack. Over 200 people were killed in the two incidents combined.
Around 1,600 security personnel ensured a peaceful Christmas in Makassar, South Sulawesi, guarding churches and public facilities.
In Semarang, Central Sulawesi, police tightened security at 161 churches, closely monitoring all who came.
Earlier, National Police deputy chief of public relations Brig. Gen. Soenarko said police would tighten security in churches nationwide -- with a special focus on conflict areas -- from Christmas until after the new year by deploying of two- thirds of the national force, backed up by the Indonesian Military (TNI).