SW News: The Indonesian government has taken a proactive step in protecting Christians and churches across the country during Christmas and New Year by ordering the deployment of almost 180,000 security personnel. This has been done anticipating terror attacks and other crimes targeting believers. Churches in the Muslim-dominant nation have witnessed attacks during Christmas and Holy Week before.

"We will deploy 177,212 cops throughout Christmas this year," Assistant National Police Chief Imam Sugianto said in a statement released on December 21. He added that they would also protect churches, commercial centers, and tourist attractions. Imam further added that the military would assist the police in providing security cover in what is known as Operation Candle that runs from December 24 to January 2.

According to the Religious Affairs Ministry, Indonesia has around 11,000 Catholic and Protestant churches. Despite concerns about Covid-19, the threat posed by the highly contagious Omicron variety of the virus, and probable attacks by radicals, all churches will be open during the Christmas season to allow believers to attend Masses.

The most recent attack on a church was on Palm Sunday this year. It was the Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral in Makassar, South Sulawesi province, that was targeted by two suicide bombers who blew themselves up injuring 20 believers.

The archdiocese will work with the Jakarta police on security problems, according to Father Antonius Suyadi, chairman of the Jakarta Archdiocese's ecumenical and interreligious affairs commission.