People Stand United in Safeguarding Houses of Worship
One week after the suicide bombings at three churches and the city police headquarters in Surabaya, locals voluntarily helped police personnel and government officials in safeguarding the houses of worship.
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SURABAYA, KOMPAS – One week after the suicide bombings at three churches and the city police headquarters in Surabaya, East Java, services proceeded safely on Sunday (20/5/2018) at 228 churches in Surabaya and 81 churches in Sidoarjo regency. Locals voluntarily helped police personnel and government officials in safeguarding the houses of worship to ensure congregants’ safety.
Security had been tightened at the 228 churches in Surabaya to anticipate more attacks. Apart from police and military personnel, the security measures also involved members of Barisan Ansor Serbaguna (Banser), the youth wing of the nation’s largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama, and Persebaya Surabaya soccer club fans, known as bonek. This was visible at Saint Mary Immaculate (SMTB) Catholic Church in Ngagel, which was among the three churches targeted in the suicide bombings. The other two churches were the Diponegoro Indonesian Christian Church (GKI) on Jl. Diponegoro and the Surabaya Pentecostal Church (GPPS) on Jl. Arjuno.
At another church, namely the Church of the Holy Spirit in Rungkut, congregants with vehicles were told to enter the churchyard through the back gate; the front gate was reserved for those arriving on foot. Tighter security was also visible at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on Jl. Polisi Istimewa. Police closed off one lane in front of the church and placed a Mobile Brigade (Brimob) tactical vehicle and a firetruck there.
Surabaya Diocese vicar general Father Eko Budi Susilo said services proceeded as normal on Sunday. At the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, for instance, 1,000 congregants gathered for the Sunday mass. “The atmosphere of fear has gone away. The number of people coming to the church is the same as any other Sunday. We are grateful to all parties who were involved in ensuring safety at the church, so that we can pray in safety, comfort and peace,” he said.
The head of Ansor’s Gubeng branch, Agusetyo Denny Susandi, 35, said Ansor had participated several times in guarding the SMTB church. According to Agusetyo, 10 Banser members from the Gubeng branch had guarded the church of around 300 congregants since Saturday (19/5/2018).
Surabaya Police chief Sr. Comr. Rudi Setiawan said that, after the bombing last Sunday, police had increased security at all churches in the city. Some 1,250 personnel had been deployed to all churches in the city.
Despite the city having returned to normal, Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini said she would ensure that locals and students were not traumatized by the bombings. “I will go to elementary schools and junior high schools to initiate trauma-healing programs. Children, especially those who personally knew the children involved in the bombings, must be healed from trauma,” she said.