100 houses set on fire in troubled Poso<\/p>\n
POSO, Central Sulawesi(JP): At least 100 houses were set on
\nfire by mobs in two different areas on Monday, with one group of
\nhouses reportedly belonging to Muslims and the other to
\nChristians.<\/p>\n
Poso Police chief Sr. Comr. Djasman Baso Opu confirmed the
\nacts of arson in the village of Malino in Tojo district and in
\nAmpana Kota in Ampana district.<\/p>\n
No casualties were reported in either attack.<\/p>\n
The first incident occurred in Malino, some 50 kilometers east
\nof Poso, where an unknown group of people set fire to houses
\nbelonging to local residents in the early hours of Monday
\nmorning.<\/p>\n
When the news of the arson attack, which was reportedly
\nperpetrated against the houses of Muslim residents, reached
\nAmpana, local Muslims gathered and launched a retaliatory attack
\non a Christians community in Ampana.<\/p>\n
In the retaliatory attack, around 12 houses were burned in
\nAmpana Kota, located some 267 kilometers southeast of Poso.<\/p>\n
Djasman said the security forces had been deployed to both
\nlocations.<\/p>\n
\"The situation is gradually coming under control,\" Djasman
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
In another related development, some 1,000 people staged a
\nrowdy protest at the office of Poso Regent Abdul Muin Pusadan,
\nprotesting against Central Sulawesi governor Aminuddin Ponulele
\nwho was in town during a whirlwind visit around the province.<\/p>\n
The protesters demanded that the governor cancel his planned
\nvisit to Tentena, a town with a Christian majority located some
\n50 kilometers south of Poso.<\/p>\n
They demanded that the governor and his entourage instead
\nvisit Buyung Katedo hamlet in Sepe village where at least 14
\npeople were killed last week.<\/p>\n
\"We will not let the Governor visit Tentena,\" the protesters
\nshouted.<\/p>\n
The governor then met representatives of the protesters at the
\nregent's office. At the meeting, the governor was accompanied by
\nCentral Sulawesi Police chief Brig. Gen. Zainal Abidin Ishak and
\nseveral officials from his administration.<\/p>\n
The protesters' spokesman Yusuf Dumo said the governor should
\npay attention to the people in Buyung Katedo, meet them and
\nlisten to what they had to say.<\/p>\n
The governor, however, insisted that he would not cancel his
\nvisit to Tentena as he also wanted to hear what the people there
\nhad to say.<\/p>\n
\"We don't discriminate between Muslims and Christians. We have
\nthe right to visit and meet with people everywhere,\" Aminuddin
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Aminuddin, however, in the end decided to cancel his trip and
\nreturned to Palu, the capital of Central Sulawesi. (24\/emf)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/100-houses-set-on-fire-in-troubled-poso-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}