Jakarta shows its tolerant side

Mustaqim Adamrah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Christmas was celebrated peacefully in Jakarta on Tuesday, with only a bomb hoax to disturb police.

An anonymous bomb threat directed at Plaza Kristal in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, on Monday evening, saw 20 bomb squad officers sent to secure the area. No explosives were found.

But the rest of the holiday was clear and calm.

On Christmas Eve, Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo paid courtesy calls to several churches in Jakarta and urged interfaith peace.

"Let's build a city for everyone. Set aside all the discriminating manners in ourselves," he told a congregation of 50,000 people at the Cathedral in Central Jakarta.

Christmas has been marked by beefed-up security in the capital since bombs rocked several cities in Indonesia, including Jakarta, on Christmas Eve 2000. Bombs were found in four churches and a Catholic school in the city. The police have never connected the attacks to any specific organization.

This year the city administration and the Jakarta Police have deployed 17,690 officers to churches and public places at 173 different locations from Dec. 22 to 29.

While several churches in the city have been forced to close by neighbors recently, there was not religious tension evident this year.

"I'm glad I got the impression that Christians are celebrating Christmas this year more freely and happily. They don't feel threatened or worried any more," Fauzi said Monday evening.

After the Cathedral, Fauzi continued to Immanuel Church in Central Jakarta, Kristus Yesus Church in West Jakarta, Huria Kristen Batak Protestan (HKBP) Church in South Jakarta, Koinonia Church in East Jakarta and ended at Santo Yakobus Church in North Jakarta.

Fauzi said he was happy to learn that Jakartans of all faiths were helping keep the peace.

"I notice that there's quite a number of Islamic organizations that also have helped keep security at a number of churches during Christmas Eve," he said.

"I also thank all the mass organizations and local security apparatus who have helped stay on guard and provide protection to the Christians who are praying."

Suripto, a resident of Gambir in Central Jakarta, said at least 25 residents from his community unit took part in providing security at Immanuel Church.

"We are from three different mosques. We want to show the people that interfaith tolerance does still exist," he said.

"And whoever who claims themselves to be Muslims and wants to cause trouble during Christmas Eve hopefully will be deterred when they see their brothers are part of the security at this church."

Separately, thousands of Protestants organized a massive celebration at Senayan on Dec. 25. They said they believed Jakarta was safe for such an event.

"Religious intolerance and extremism is a illness of the few, it doesn't scare me and it's not going to stop me from praying at Christmas," said Niko Suhada, a member of Indonesia's Bethel Church (GBI).

Niko was one of thousands of Christians who flocked to Gelora Bung Karno, Senayan, Central Jakarta, for the massive Christmas celebration held by GBI.

Some 60,000 Christmas worshippers were expected to attend the event, which started at 10 a.m. and would end at around 11 p.m. (anw)