East Java Police Deploys 14 Thousand Personnel to Secure Christmas and New Year

East Java Police Chief Inspector General Nanang Avianto during the apel of the Lilin Semeru 2025 Operation troops in Surabaya, Friday (19/12/2025). (ANTARA/Willi Irawan)

SURABAYA - The East Java Regional Police has deployed around 14,000 joint personnel in the Lilin Semeru 2025 Operation to secure the 2025 Christmas and 2026 New Year celebrations throughout East Java.

"This Lilin Semeru operation is a Christmas and New Year security activity, where approximately five million Christians will carry out Christmas worship," said East Java Police Chief Inspector General Nanang Avianto, in Surabaya, Friday, December 19.

Nanang said that thousands of personnel were a combination of the National Police of the Republic of Indonesia (Polri), the Indonesian National Army (TNI), local governments, and other related stakeholders.

Personnel are stationed at security posts and service posts spread across all districts and cities in East Java.

He explained that security was focused on large churches, shopping centers, tourist locations, as well as major roads and toll roads that are predicted to experience an increase in vehicle volume during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

According to Nanang, the police have also prepared special security for the implementation of Christmas on December 25, 2025 through sterilization activities in all churches so that the congregation can worship safely and devoutly.

In addition, the East Java Police has deployed personnel and supporting equipment to anticipate potential security disruptions and emergencies during the year-end holiday period.

Nanang urged the public to remain vigilant in carrying out activities, especially when driving on highways and toll roads, and to comply with traffic rules for the sake of safety.

"We hope that all the Christmas and New Year's activities can run well, so that people can enjoy the end of the year safely and comfortably," he said.

He added that security was carried out in an integrated and sustainable manner until the end of the year to ensure that the security and public order stability in East Java was maintained.