Police beef up security measures at churches
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
With Christmas drawing near, police are beefing up security around churches and other places of worship in the capital and neighboring towns.
City police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani said on Tuesday a joint force from the police, city administration and the military would step up security around at least 728 churches and other places of worships in Greater Jakarta.
Though the latest intelligence suggests suspected terrorist mastermind Noordin M. Top is somewhere in Central Java, "there are concerns his group could send new recruits to carry out bombings during Christmas at churches and other places of worship", Firman Gani said at City Hall.
Representatives from the city police, Jakarta Military Command, Jakarta Prosecutor's Office, city administration and the City Council held a coordination meeting on Tuesday to assess the current situation, and to map out security arrangements during the Christmas holiday.
Regional terrorist group Jamaah Islamiyah is thought to have been responsible for bombings at over a dozen churches across the country on Christmas Eve in 2000.
The group has also been accused of being behind a number of other terrorist attacks in the country, including the first Bali bombings in October 2002, and the J.W. Marriott hotel attack in 2003 and the bombing near the Australian Embassy in 2004, both in Jakarta.
Police dealt the JI a blow when it killed suspected bombmaker Azahari bin Husin and arrested several alleged group members in recent raids in Batu, East Java, and Semarang, Central Java.
However, Noordin, who is thought to be JI's main recruiter, was able to elude arrest.
Intelligence reports have suggested the group is planning attacks in several areas of the country in response to Azahari's death.
Firman said the Jakarta Police were on full alert, with about 17,000 of the force's 24,000 officers taking part in this year- end special security operation that is scheduled to close on Jan. 10.
Governor Sutiyoso said officers from different agencies in his administration, including the Jakarta Public Order Agency, the Jakarta Fire Department and the Jakarta Transportation Agency, would play a supporting role during the operation.
"Aside from prioritizing security measures at churches and other places of worship, we will also beef up security at bus terminals, airports and seaport, as well as places that are frequented by holiday makers, including recreational centers," Sutiyoso said.
Fourteen religious and community organizations said last week they were ready to help guard churches during the holiday. The groups, including Nahdlatul Ulama's youth wing Ansor, the Mosque Youth Group, the Betawi Association, the Betawi Brotherhood Forum and the Pancasila Youth, said they could deploy 7,700 people to help ensure a safe and peaceful Christmas.