Security tight as Indonesia celebrates Eid

August 09, 2013

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JAKARTA, Indonesia – Tens of millions of Muslims in Indonesia celebrated the Eid al-Fitr holiday Thursday (August 8th) as fears of fresh attacks at Buddhist sites prompted a security clampdown days after a temple bombing, AFP reported.

Meilan Retnowati (left) and husband Aron Medea buy a traditional gift for Idul Fitri at a Jakarta flower-and-gift shop on Wednesday (August 7th). Tens of millions of Indonesian Muslims travelled throughout the archipelago to celebrate the holiday with family members. [Romeo Gacad/AFP]

The past week has seen an exodus from cities, with people taking to cars, boats and planes to head home to their families across the country.

But it is has been anxious time for the country's minority Buddhists, particularly in light of a Sunday attack against a temple in Jakarta, apparently motivated by anger over the persecution of Rohingyas in Burma. One person was injured in the incident.

Security was stepped up at Buddhist sites, with the number of police and guards at the famed Borobudur temple complex in Central Java doubled to 418, according to temple official Purnomo Siswo Prasetyo.

More than 140,000 police had been deployed across the country in the past week to guard against attacks at all sites deemed vulnerable, including Buddhist temples, national police spokesman Ronny Sompie said.