ONE MORE SLEEP TO GO: A worker puts the finishing touches on a cave, 6 meters high and 6 meters wide, made from blangkon, the traditional Javanese hat that symbolizes modesty, at Santo Petrus Church in Semarang, Central Java, on Tuesday. (JP/J. Adiguna)

Thousands of soldiers and police will be on guard to keep Christmas safe amid fears of religion-based attacks, while many citizens in Indonesia’s east may have to celebrate the day in the dark.

State power company PT PLN will be forced to continue its rotating blackout schedule in Kupang, the capital city of East Nusa Tenggara, and surrounding areas during Christmas because of a fault in one of its generators.

Christian communities in Kupang will have to celebrate the auspicious day by candlelight.

When contacted for comment, Kupang branch PLN spokesman Buce Liu declined to elaborate on the matter, directing questions to operational manager Willer Marpaung, who also declined to comment.

Gereja Masehi Injili church synod head on Timor Island, Rev. Eben Nuban Timor, said the rolling power outages were caused by a broken generator.

“PLN promised in a meeting to provide a generator for each church,” said Nuban, adding PLN had also promised to provide power for churches in remote areas.

“Hopefully, they won’t break their promise,” he said.

Meanwhile, in Cirebon, West Java, about 3,000 police officers will be deployed for Christmas and New Year’s Day along the province’s north coast highway.        

The officers are from five police forces in West Java’s north coast areas: Cirebon, Indramayu, Majalengka, Kuningan and Cirebon city.          

Cirebon Police chief Sr. Comr. Nasser Amir, who oversees the five forces, said on Tuesday the deployment of police personnel was to maintain security for Christmas and New Year’s Day.          

He added police would prioritize security for churches, as well as entertainment venues and public facilities.

“We will deploy intelligence and bomb disposal units,” Nasser said.

In Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, the provincial and nine regency police forces will deploy at least 1,500 personnel to safeguard Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Police held a troop inspection to mark the launch of a security operation, code-named Lilin Rinjani Tambora (Rintam), at the West Nusa Tenggara Police field Tuesday, led by provincial police chief Brig. Gen. Surya Iskandar.

“Operation Rintam will be carried out from Dec. 24 to Jan. 2 next year. Members from the military, public order police and transportation agency will also be involved in the operation,” Surya said.

Several commands were set up in areas at high risk of crime 10 days before the holidays.

In Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, the provincial police will deploy around 1,400 personnel to safeguard Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Security will be focused on churches  and on traffic management during the New Year’s holiday.

“We will also heighten security at tourist sites, shopping areas, sea and airports and critical national assets,” East Kalimantan Police chief Insp. Gen. Andi Masmiyat told The Jakarta Post in Balikpapan on Tuesday.

In Surabaya,  the provincial police will deploy up to 4,000 personnel to maintain security and order during Christmas and New Year celebrations and the vote recount in Pamekasan, Madura, at the end of this month.

After launching Operation Lilin Semeru at the provincial police headquarters in Surabaya on Tuesday, deputy police chief Brig. Gen. Sugiyono said police would be deployed to churches across the province's 38 regencies and municipalities from Christmas Eve until the end of the New Year celebrations.

Indra Harsaputra, Nurni Sulaiman and Panca Nugraha contributed to this article from Surabaya, Balikpapan and Mataram, respectively.

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