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Islamic organizations in Poso help to secure churches
The Poso chapter of Nahdlatul Ulamaâs young wing, Barisan Ansor Serbaguna (Banser NU), says it is ready to help police and military personnel ensure peace and safety for Christians in Poso, Central Sulawesi, who will conduct religious ceremonies for Christmas
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he Poso chapter of Nahdlatul Ulama's young wing, Barisan Ansor Serbaguna (Banser NU), says it is ready to help police and military personnel ensure peace and safety for Christians in Poso, Central Sulawesi, who will conduct religious ceremonies for Christmas.
'We will help secure Christmas celebrations in Poso but we can manage to secure only 12 churches due to our limited number of personnel,' Banser Poso head Ibrahim told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
He said the participation of Banser personnel in helping to secure churches in Poso was also aimed at informing the public there was no longer inter-religious conflict in the regency such as that seen in 1998-2001. All parties should no longer consider Poso a conflict zone, he further said.
'The Poso that you see now is not a place like what you have seen before. We, as religious communities, have been living together in peace and we are fully aware that conflict will only bring suffering to us,' said Ibrahim.
Yesiah Ery Tamalagi, one of the Indonesia Christian Students Movement's (GMKI) senior members, said the group praised Banser members for participating in securing churches in Poso. He said the church security services provided by the NU youth wing proved that there were no problems between followers of Islam and Christianity in Indonesia.
Yesiah said any disturbances occurring in Poso now were not inter-religious conflict but terror attacks perpetrated by a certain group of people against security officers.
Poso Police Precinct chief Adj. Sr. Comr Susnadi said the police had deployed at least 700 joint-team officers, comprising police and military personnel, to provide security at churches in Poso regency. At least one National Police officer and one Indonesian Military member, with support from Islamic organizations and churches' internal security guards, will safeguard each church. (ebf)
