South Sumatra Police Deploy Thousands of Personnel to Ensure Smooth Ascension of Jesus Christ Worship
Based on information received on Thursday (14/5/2026), 378 churches spread across 17 districts and cities under the South Sumatra Police jurisdiction received tight security. This is to ensure that all congregations can carry out their worship safely, comfortably, and reverently.
The security measures are an implementation of the precise Indonesian National Police approach, as well as the state’s commitment to guaranteeing the freedom of citizens to practise their religion in line with the constitutional mandate. This step is also an important part of maintaining public order and security stability while strengthening interfaith harmony in South Sumatra.
In its implementation, the South Sumatra Regional Police mobilised a total of 2,663 combined personnel, consisting of 2,237 Indonesian National Police personnel, 226 Indonesian National Armed Forces personnel, and 200 personnel from other related agencies.
Security is focused on churches with large congregations, including the Palembang Metropolitan Police Resort area, which is the main concentration point with 77 worship locations and tens of thousands of congregants.
In addition to open and closed guards, the combined personnel also conducted church area sterilisation, traffic regulation, mobile patrols, and intensive coordination with church administrators and religious figures to ensure all worship series run smoothly without disruption.
This security activity is in line with President Prabowo Subianto’s directives in strengthening tolerance and maintaining national unity as the main foundation of national development. The presence of security apparatus amid the community also serves as a form of state service in ensuring a sense of security for all religious communities.
The impact of this security was directly felt by around 35,109 congregants who carried out Ascension of Jesus Christ worship in various areas of South Sumatra. The situation during the worship was safe, orderly, and conducive.
The Operations Assistant of the South Sumatra Regional Police, Senior Commissioner Muhammad Anis Prasetio Santoso, emphasised that all personnel have been prepared with a measured and professional security pattern to ensure worship activities proceed without obstacles.
“We ensure that all ranks are present in the field to provide a sense of security and comfort to Christian worshippers. Security is carried out in a humane manner but remains alert to any potential public order disruptions,” stressed Senior Commissioner Muhammad Anis Prasetio Santoso.
The Head of Public Relations of the South Sumatra Regional Police, Senior Commissioner Nandang Mu’min Wijaya, stated that the success of the security is inseparable from cross-sector synergy between the Indonesian National Armed Forces, Indonesian National Police, local government, religious figures, and the community.
“The South Sumatra Regional Police is fully committed to maintaining security stability and interfaith tolerance. Synergy between the Indonesian National Armed Forces and Police and all community elements is the main strength in ensuring all religious activities run safely, peacefully, and conducive,” said Senior Commissioner Nandang Mu’min Wijaya.
Until all worship series were completed, the security situation in the South Sumatra Regional Police jurisdiction was reported to remain safe and under control. Monitoring and routine patrols continue to be carried out to ensure post-worship community activities run normally and productively.