Illegal arms threaten security ahead of polls<\/p>\n
Muhammad Azis Tunny and Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Ambon\/Palu<\/p>\n
A senior officer of Pattimura military command predicted on
\nWednesday that some 300 firearms were still in the hands of
\ncivilians in Maluku province, which could pose a significant
\nthreat to security for the upcoming elections.<\/p>\n
"The weapons could be used by irresponsible parties to stir
\nchaos in the province," said Col. Sujadmoko, the deputy chief of
\nintelligence at the military command overseeing Maluku.<\/p>\n
The circulation of the firearms, was according to him, one of
\nfive factors that could potentially incite mass demonstrations of
\nviolence in the formerly riot-torn province during elections this
\nyear.<\/p>\n
The other factors he mentioned were provocation among members
\nof political parties, bomb attacks, poll boycotts and separatist
\nattempts to foil the elections.<\/p>\n
Maluku has been rocked by sectarian violence since 1999.
\nThousands of Muslims and Christians were killed in the sectarian
\nconflict, while hundreds of thousands of others fled to other
\nareas, to avoid becoming victims of the bloodshed.<\/p>\n
Riots in Maluku largely subsided last year, and people there
\ncan enjoy a relatively peaceful lifestyle.<\/p>\n
But, in some parts of Maluku, community members still keep
\nsharp weapons or firearms by their sides.<\/p>\n
Currently, police and military personnel conduct regular
\nsearches of local residents' houses, hoping to find weapons.<\/p>\n
Separately in the Central Sulawesi province, another formerly
\nriot-torn province, police personnel have already upped security
\nin Morowali and Poso regencies in preparation for the elections.<\/p>\n
The chief of Central Sulawesi provincial police, Brig. Gen.
\nTaufik Ridha, said that the police would deploy 3,467 of Central
\nSulawesi's 4,764 police personnel during the elections in the two
\nregencies.<\/p>\n
"We will not take any risks," he said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/illegal-arms-threaten-security-ahead-of-polls-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }