West Jakarta Police Ensure Safe Maundy Thursday Masses at 33 Churches

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The West Jakarta Metropolitan Police (Polres Jakbar) have ensured that Maundy Thursday masses as part of the Easter celebrations at 33 churches proceeded safely and conducive to worship. A total of 18,570 congregants carried out their worship peacefully, supported by the presence of 147 Indonesian National Police personnel deployed to provide services and security. “Each church received security measures adjusted to the number of congregants and the level of vulnerability, to ensure the entire series of worship runs smoothly,” said the Chief of West Jakarta Metropolitan Police, Commissioner Pol Twedi Aditya Bennyahdi, when contacted in Jakarta on Thursday. In carrying out the security operations, Twedi explained, members of the West Jakarta Metropolitan Police stood guard in the church areas, assisted in managing the flow of congregants, and ensured the surrounding environment remained safe and comfortable. Additionally, he said, prior to the worship series, sterilisations had been conducted by the Jihandak Brimob team of the Metro Jaya Regional Police at several churches in West Jakarta. “To anticipate and minimise any security disturbances or unwanted incidents during the Easter worship series in 2024,” Twedi stated. According to him, this year’s Easter celebrations reflect the beauty of tolerance and togetherness in West Jakarta’s community. “Amid differences, a sense of mutual respect is continuously upheld, making the Easter momentum a symbol of peace and hope for all,” Twedi added.