Police arrest troublemakers near Palu<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Local police in Central Sulawesi have arrested
\nseven people for allegedly attempting to disrupt the closing
\nceremony of the 19th National Koran Reading competition in
\nDonggala, near the provincial capital Palu.<\/p>\n
The suspects were identified only as Ar, Yan, Arl, Fai, SR,
\nRy, and MS, most of them residents of Poso, where weeks of
\nsectarian riots have claimed at least 120 lives.<\/p>\n
Antara reported that the police searched the crowds at the
\nceremony in JabalNur subdistrict, Donggala, following reports
\nthat a group of people were hurling stones at the crowd attending
\nthe event on Thursday night. The contest was closed by Vice
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
Police confiscated several traditional swords and bows and
\narrows from the arrested men.<\/p>\n
Chief of Donggala Police Col. Sudargo said on Friday the
\nsuspects were still being questioned.<\/p>\n
While appealing to local residents to exercise restraint,
\nSudargo said he had ordered a thorough investigation of the
\nincident to see if there were any political motives behind it.<\/p>\n
\"I hope everybody responds to the incident cautiously and
\ndoesn't listen to rumors from people who wish to extend the
\nsectarian riots now raging in Poso,\" Sudargo said.<\/p>\n
Over the past two weeks, police in Palu have foiled several
\nattempts to smuggle weapons and munitions into the province by
\nair.<\/p>\n
In Makassar, Wirabuana Military Commander Maj. Gen. Slamet
\nKirbiantoro said security personnel were ready to stop rioters
\nwishing to add to the troubles in Poso, some 240 kilometers
\nsoutheast of the provincial capital of Palu.<\/p>\n
\"We've already heard that certain religious groups from Palu
\nwill invade the remote town a few days after the closing of the
\nKoran competition. Even though it is only a rumor, we have
\nanticipated it and raised the security alert level to the
\nhighest,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In the past couple of weeks, hundreds of weapons and thousands
\nof rounds of ammunitions have been seized from the warring camps.<\/p>\n
Slamet said at least 120 people had been killed and hundreds
\nothers injured in the clashes between Christians and Muslims,
\nwhich have came on the heels of similar sectarian conflict in
\nMaluku.<\/p>\n
Around 5,000 people have sought refuge in makeshift camps in
\nneighboring areas, government offices and military and police
\nheadquarters, he said.<\/p>\n
No less than 6,000 other refugees have streamed into Palu.<\/p>\n
Slamet said that troops in the area, totaling 1,500 personnel,
\nhad also been tasked to help reconstruct the strife-torn areas.<\/p>\n
\"Sporadic conflicts are still taking place here and there but
\nthe security forces are maintaining their firm actions. The
\nshoot-on-sight order is still effective,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, non-Muslim residents in Makassar have been
\nprevented from going about their daily activities as students are
\ncontinuing to stop people and check their identification cards.<\/p>\n
\"We fear that the students may hold us hostage and harass us.
\nWe're better staying at home,\" said Julius, 23, from Flores, East
\nNusa Tenggara.<\/p>\n
The students reportedly conducted stop-and-search operations
\nin front of the Indonesian Muslim University campus on Jl. Urip
\nSumohardjo, and Muhammadiyah University and IAIN Alauddin
\ncampuses on Jl. Allaudin.<\/p>\n
Even Muslim locals expressed anger at the student's actions.<\/p>\n
\"Those students are very rude. They yelled and knocked on our
\ncar windows,\" Mina, a housewife who was among those who had her
\nID checked, said.<\/p>\n
KH Abdul Djalil Tahir, a famous local Muslim leader who runs
\nthe Bombara Islamic boarding school, said the students did not
\nrepresent Muslim community in the city. He also urged security
\nauthorities to take measures against them. (27\/edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-arrest-troublemakers-near-palu-1447893297",
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