Jayapura, Papua – The Police chief of Jayapura in Papua province, Adjunct Senior Commissioner Alfred Papare, has stated that Muslim youths will assist police personnel in ensuring security at the city's churches during the Lilin Operation in the region.

"Besides the personnel from Jayapura Police office, who are in charge of protecting churches, Muslim youths in the city will also be involved in maintaining security," he said here on Wednesday.

Alfred noted that the police had sought the cooperation of the city's Muslim youth leaders in ensuring security during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

"I have also communicated with several Muslim youth leaders and asked them to assist in providing security at churches, particularly during Christmas," he continued.

Alfred said 500 police officers will be deployed in an effort to step up security in Jayapura during the festivities. "Our personnel will be stationed in several points, such as Luat Jayapura, Port Area, Entrop, Abepura and Waena," he pointed out.

Alfred stated that police officers will also be stationed in Nafri village to maintain security in the violence-prone area. "We will examine the security in the area. If necessary, we will hold patrols in some vulnerable zones," he said.

Alfred urged the people of Jayapura to celebrate Christmas and New Year peacefully.

"The Christmas and New Year are just like other religious holidays. We should celebrate them all in the same way. However, it is not just the police's responsibility to maintain peace; all citizens must contribute to the effort," he said. (B019/KR-BSR/O001)