Minority Indonesian Catholics kiss the cross during a Good Friday mass at the Jakarta cathedral on April 3, 2015, as Christian devotees mark holy week in Indonesia, a predominantly Islamic nation. AFP/ROMEO GACAD
Good Friday celebrations passed off without any disruption in East Jakarta, an East Jakarta Police spokesman says.
“The celebration of Good Friday in 129 churches in East Jakarta went smoothly,” he said on Friday as quoted by Antara news agency.
Police in East Jakarta are deploying 478 personnel from the Sabhara unit to secure the churches until the peak of the Easter celebrations on Sunday. The East Jakarta Police are deploying 142 officers while another 336 have been taken from police stations under its jurisdiction.
Duren Sawit district has the most Catholic churches with 30, followed by 22 churches in Jatinegara and 19 in Kramat Jati. Meanwhile, Matraman and Cakung have only one church each while another seven churches are located in Cipayung.
The Jakarta Police are providing security for churches across the city ahead of Easter celebrations on Sunday. Police personnel have been readied since Thursday night as Christians attended religious services for Maundy Thursday.