Police Launch Candle Light Operations Ahead Of Christmas

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Indonesian police launch "Operasi Lilin" (candle light operations) to assure security ahead of Christmas and  New Year celebrations.

National Police chief General Timur Pradopo in a roll call to mark the start of the operations at Monas Square here on Thursday said "police are ready to secure the whole country."

Police deploy 87,339 personnel for the 10-day operations this year. This time focus will be put on preventing possible anarchism which has been rife in the country lately, he said.

"The threat of anarchism certainly will be given attention in connection with Christmas and New Year celebrations," he said.

Fourteen regions will be given a priority in the operations namely Papua, North Sulawesi, Maluku, Banten, Jakarta, Yogyakarta and West Java.

Meanwhile there are 32,000 churches across the country that will be given secured.

It is hoped security will remain conducive during the celebrations, the chief of public information said.(**)