Indonesia to Implement Early Threat Detection for Places of Worship
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Jakarta, Dec 20 (NationPress) The Indonesian police are set to commence an operation designed to shield places of worship from possible terrorist threats during the Christmas and New Year festivities, an official stated on Friday.
The Candle Operation has been mandated by the Chief of the Indonesian National Police, General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, as announced by Jakarta Metropolitan Police Chief Inspector General Karyoto during a preparatory ceremony at the National Monument Park.
The Candle Operation aims to thwart terrorist activities during worship services held by the Christian community, he noted.
The initiative is scheduled to commence on December 22 and will continue until January 2, according to Karyoto.
A key measure in this operation includes screening every worshipper entering the premises with an X-ray to prevent any dangerous items from being brought in, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
Indonesia has faced several terrorist incidents during the year-end period in recent years, including suicide bombings in churches, resulting in numerous casualties.
The nation is preparing for a significant influx of travelers during the Christmas and New Year celebrations, with millions expected to crowd the roads and cities across the Southeast Asian archipelago.
According to a recent survey conducted by the transportation ministry, around 110 million people, or approximately 43 percent of the nation's population, plan to travel during this holiday season. This figure surpasses the number of travelers recorded in the same timeframe last year.
Of this number, it is estimated that 45 percent will be traveling for tourism purposes, while about 32 percent will be visiting their hometowns to celebrate Christmas and New Year with family. The ministry also indicated that outbound traffic for Christmas is expected to peak on December 21, whereas the New Year outbound traffic is projected to peak on December 28.
Authorities have assured that transportation facilities and infrastructure are adequately prepared to accommodate holiday travelers during this period, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
"We trust that all the facilities and infrastructure, which have been thoroughly prepared, will aid and serve the public during their travels. We also urge all travelers to remain vigilant regarding weather conditions," stated Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi recently.
The ministry has also devised strategies to mitigate traffic congestion, especially in areas anticipating increased traveler volume, including the implementation of contraflow traffic regulations with police assistance on several toll roads. Furthermore, a travel ban for cargo trucks on national and toll roads will be enforced on specific days during the holiday, although this will not apply to trucks transporting food, fuel, and other essential goods.
Moreover, security preparations for the year-end holiday season are being finalized, with police and military personnel already stationed at various locations including airports, seaports, and shopping centers, as reported by the National Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo.
During the Christmas celebrations, law enforcement will ensure the safety of churches nationwide.
