Hundreds of police officers were deployed to provide security during the Christmas Eve mass in almost all churches in the capital, Antara observed.
Chief of the Sawah Besar police precinct Comr. JR Sitinjak said a total of 251 personnel were deployed to guard the Christmas Eve mass on Saturday and the Christmas mass on Sunday at Cathedral Church in Central Jakarta.
"The 251 personnel consist of 184 police officers, and 67 officers from other units, such as public order agency, security guard and scouting movement," he said.
Earlier, at 02.00, the Gegana bomb-squad had sterilized the church and will be stand by in the location until Sunday night.
The Christmas Eve mass at Cathedral Church was conducted three times, namely at 05.00 p.m., 08.00 p.m. and 10.30 p.m.
Christians began to flock to the church at around 03.30.
Tight security was also seen at Santa Theresia Church where 79 police officers and 10 church security personnel were deployed to guard the Christmas Eve mass.
Like Cathedral Church, Santa Theresia Church also organized the Christmas Eve mass three times, namely at 05.00 p.m., 08.00 p.m. and 11.00 p.m.
Chief of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police Insp. Gen. Untung S Rajab said police personnel were on first level alert to guard the Christmas Eve celebrations.
"All Jakarta Metropolitan Police personnel are on first level alert to provide as maximum Christmas security as possible," he said.
The Jakarta Metropolitan Police deployed 4,900 personnel including those from the Gegana bomb squad, traffic unit, detective unit, Shabara rapid response unit to provide security during the Christmas Eve celebrations.
In addition, the city police also received security personnel assistance from the Indonesian Police Headquarters, the Jakarta regional military command, the public order agency and a number of mass organizations.
Prior to the Christmas Eve mass, Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo inspected a number of churches including Immanuel Church, Cathedral Church, Bethel Indonesia Mawar Saron Church, Paroki Keluarga Kudus Church, Bukit Moria Church and Kristoforus church.
The governor was during the visit accompanied by Chief of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police Insp. Gen. Untung S. Rajab and Chief of the Jakarta Regional Military Command Maj. Gen. Waris to see security preparations for the Christmas Eve celebrations.
Christians in other parts of the country also celebrated the Christmas Eve in peace.
In Maluku province, some 2,000 personnel were deployed to guard churches in all districts and municipalities in the province.
Chief of the Maluku Provincial Police Brig. Gen. Syarief Gunawan said the local security agencies began deploying personnel to guard Christmas celebrations on December 23. The personnel were deployed not only at places of worship but also at public places considered vulnerable to security disturbance.
Meanwhile, the East Nusa Tenggara provincial police are deploying 8,000 personnel to guard the Christmas and New Year celebrations to ensure the local people feel comfortable in performing religious rituals.
(SYS/S012)
Editor: Suryanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
