Indonesia, home to the world’s largest Muslim population, announced in December the deployment of 192,000 security personnel to safeguard Christians, and other minor-ities, during the Christmas period. This is a heightened time of risk for Islamic extremist attacks.
Authorities on the south-east Asian archipelago, where Christians make up at least 15% of the population, posted police officers and navy personnel across the country, including the predominantly Christian provinces of Papua and West Papua, to secure celebrations held over Christmas and on New Year’s Eve.
Intelligence led increase
The force is larger than the 167,000 personnel deployed last year. A police spokesman said: ‘Based on the intelligence data, there are potential risks … so we are taking preventative measures.’
