Indonesia temples boost security

The Jagatnatha Temple in Denpasar said it had increased security measures by assigning special guards to accompany the existing pemangku (priests) that had been guarding the temple.

The decision was in follow-up to the thefts of pretima — small, sacred effigies usually made of precious woods and bedecked with jewels — from 34 temples since 2008. The Bali Police successfully resolved several cases late last year and arrested some suspects, including a priest.

Further, temples intensify security guard presence through mekemit or night vigils. Mekemit was initially performed to protect worshippers when praying, but has now been extended to protect pretima.

Pasek said these methods were uncommon though. “Because stolen pretima are considered defiled, no longer sacred and no temple wants them,” he said, explaining why no temple took the stolen pretima after they were recovered by the police.

The temples’ sacred objects, in particular the pretima, are very valuable articles for Balinese Hindus because they serve as the earthly, physical presence of their gods.

The loss of a pretima cuts deeply into the psyche of the community, which feels violated by the theft and, at the same time, abandoned by the grace and protection of their deities.

Creating a new pretima is very expensive and the community would have to conduct a series of major rituals to purify and enshrine the object.