NU civilian guards to help secure churches on Christmas eve
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The involvement of civilian guards from Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) in securing Christmas and New Year's celebrations comes as a goodwill gesture as the end of the year approaches.
The NU guards, called Banser, have agreed to back the police in ensuring the peaceful celebration of Christmas and New Year's as warnings have been issued over the possibility of attacks against a range of targets.
A memorandum of understanding on security cooperation was recently signed by the Indonesian Bishops Council (KWI) and Banser, KWI spokesman Alex S. Wijoyo said here on Thursday.
"The MOU is about cooperation, including in security during Christmas and New Year," he said after a meeting between the 2005 Christmas celebration committee and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
Under the agreement, the guards will assist in securing churches during Christmas. However, on New Year's Eve, they will stand guard at entertainment venues and shopping centers.
Banser are the guards of Ansor, the youth wing of NU -- the country's largest Muslim organization.
National Police chief of operations Comr. Gen. Insmerda Lebang, who attended Thursday's meeting with the President, said his force would deploy two thirds of its some 250,000 personnel to safeguard end-of-year events.
"It will be just like security for Idul Fitri," he added.
The police will guard churches, malls and amusement centers, particularly in big cities, Lebang said.
The police have required the installation of closed-circuit television monitors at big churches in major cities across Indonesia, where terror attacks may be planned.
Alex said the KWI was confident security authorities would do their best to protect churches.
He said many Christians would go to church at Christmas time despite the warnings.
State Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Syamsir Siregar has warned of possible plans by terrorists to launch more attacks in some cities, including Jakarta, by the end of this month.
Attacks are being planned regardless of last month's killing of master bombmaker Azahari bin Husin as his key accomplice Noordin M. Top is still at large, he added.
A series of deadly terror attacks have been staged in the country in recent years, including simultaneous church bombings at Christmas time in 2000, which claimed 19 lives.
Meanwhile, President Susilo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla are scheduled to attend the national celebration of Christmas on Dec. 27 at the Jakarta Convention Center.
Minister of Trade Mari Elka Pangestu, who chairs the Christmas celebration committee, said that among those in attendance would be ministers, other top state officials and foreign ambassadors as well as religious leaders.
Some 5,000 Christians, she added, were slated to join the ceremony themed "Do Not Be Afraid Because I Am With You".