80 soldiers questioned over clash<\/p>\n
Andi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post, Makassar, South Sulawesi<\/p>\n
Peace returned to Palopo in Luwu regency, South Sulawesi, on
\nFriday, a day after police clashed with soldiers, while dozens of
\nArmy personnel were being questioned over the fighting that
\ninjured two.<\/p>\n
No policemen from the Palopo Police station have been
\nquestioned as yet.<\/p>\n
South Sulawesi Military Commander Maj. Gen. Suprapto said the
\nlocal military police would question all soldiers involved in the
\nincident, in which a policeman and a trooper were shot.<\/p>\n
Those to be interrogated include local Army commanders, he
\nsaid, adding that if found guilty, they could face sanctions.
\nSuprapto did not elaborate.<\/p>\n
By Friday, military police investigators had questioned at
\nleast 80 soldiers from the Army's Yonif 721 Unit to find the
\nmasterminds and those involved in the fighting, Palopo Military
\nCommander Lt. Col. Wardoyo said.<\/p>\n
Luwu Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Novi Hermansyah said none of
\nhis personnel had been questioned, pending the probe into the
\nsoldiers.<\/p>\n
"We are waiting for the results of the investigation of
\nsoldiers by the military police because it was they who first
\nbeat and attack us," he reasoned.<\/p>\n
Wardoyo said the local military had disarmed all soldiers to
\nprevent further clashes. However, Novi said that not all police
\nofficers had been disarmed as they needed their weapons for their
\nsecurity tasks.<\/p>\n
"We have examined all guns in the hands of our members. Those
\ndeemed not necessary have been removed," Novi added.<\/p>\n
Suprapto and South Sulawesi Police chief Insp. Gen. Jusuf
\nManggabarani held talks on Friday in Luwu to restore peace. The
\nclosed-door meeting was attended by local security commanders and
\nsenior government officials.<\/p>\n
Jusuf said the police commanders agreed in the meeting to
\nimprove coordination with their military counterparts.<\/p>\n
The day-to-day activities of local residents returned to
\nnormal after being interrupted by the incident.<\/p>\n
Witnesses said they saw a group of around 40 gun-toting
\nsoldiers approach the Palopo Police station from behind and begin
\nfiring. The station is located some 200 meters from the Yonif 721
\nUnit compound.<\/p>\n
The soldiers also ransacked several houses at a nearby police
\nhousing complex, damaging household appliances like washing
\nmachines, refrigerators and television sets, the witnesses added.<\/p>\n
A kindergarten and a mosque near the scene also suffered
\ndamage during the shootout.<\/p>\n
Jusuf said the fighting was sparked by a brawl on Nov. 21
\nbetween police and soldiers, in which a policeman was shot. What
\ncaused the initial clash remains unclear.<\/p>\n
He declined to explain the chronology of Thursday's incident.
\n"We are still investigating the case."<\/p>\n
The fighting was the latest after often deadly clashes between
\nsoldiers and police since the police force was split from the
\nmilitary in 1999. Disputes over protection rackets are often the
\ncause of clashes.<\/p>",
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