... Rizieq had ordered FPI members across the country to maintain security in their respective areas such as churches during Christmas and New Year celebrations...Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Islam Defenders Front (FPI) is ready to help police secure places of worship during Christmas and New Year celebrations across the country, its chief said.
"We always get involved in efforts to secure places of warship to create a conducive situation," FPI Chairman Habib Rizieq said here on Thursday.
Rizieq said he had ordered FPI members across the country to maintain security in their respective areas such as churches during Christmas and New Year celebrations.
He said he was ready to monitor security in the field if the Jakarta Metropolitan Police asked FPI to help secure places of worship in the capital.
The FPI chief said Muslims were banned from disturbing adherents of other faiths while they were performing religious services arguing that every human being had the right to perform religious services.
The Jakarta Metropolitan Police, with the help of the National Police Headquarters will deploy 5,899 personnel to secure Christmas and New Year celebrations in the capital, not to mention about 1,500 public order officers (Satpolk PP) and military personnel.
As usual police had launched operations dubbed Operasi Lilin as part of efforts to ensure Christmas and New Year celebrations would proceed smoothly. (T014)
Editor: Ade P Marboen
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