Poso calm as more troops arrive<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta\/Bandung<\/p>\n
Calm returned on Monday to Poso regency, Central Sulawesi, after
\naround 300 paramilitary police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) personnel
\narrived in the religiously divided town.<\/p>\n
Residents in the attack-hit villages of Saatu, Pantangolemba
\nand Pinedapa resumed their daily activities. No further violence
\nwas reported after Sunday's dawn attacks there by masked gunmen,
\nwho killed at least nine people.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs
\nSusilo Bambang Yudhoyono ordered intelligence officers to
\nintensify their investigations into the unidentified attackers.<\/p>\n
"I think the gathered evidence, such as homemade bombs and
\nammunition, are quite sufficient for the police to start an
\ninvestigation into the incident," he told press in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
"Please, do not hesitate to take stern measures against the
\nperpetrators," he added.<\/p>\n
He also ordered the Indonesian Military (TNI) to assist the
\npolice in restoring security and order in Poso. "The government
\nwill send more reinforcement personnel to the regency if deemed
\nnecessary."<\/p>\n
Speaking at the same media briefing, National Police deputy
\nchief Comr. Gen. Kadaryanto said at least one person was arrested
\nin connection with the renewed attacks, but refused to name the
\nsuspect.<\/p>\n
Central Sulawesi Police chief Brig. Gen. Taufik Ridha said his
\nofficers were hunting the armed men.<\/p>\n
In an earlier attack last Thursday, three people were killed
\nwhen unidentified gunmen raided Beteleme, a mainly Christian
\nvillage in neighboring Morowali regency, and burned 30 homes and
\na church.<\/p>\n
The targets of Sunday's attacks were also dominantly Christian
\nvillages.<\/p>\n
Taufik said the National Police had dispatched intelligence
\nofficers and a bomb squad to help uncover the incidents in Poso
\nand Morowali.<\/p>\n
National Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Zainuri Lubis, speaking in
\nJakarta, said the simultaneous attacks were well planned to
\ndestabilize Poso after the December 2001 peace deal.<\/p>\n
A few hours before the attacks, cellular phone services and
\nintercity phone lines were cut off, he said. As of Monday, the
\ncellular network remained inactive in Poso.<\/p>\n
Zainuri said police found nails laid out on the streets
\nlinking Moengko and Kayamanya subdistricts in an apparent attempt
\nby the attackers to obstruct the arrival of security forces.<\/p>\n
The police also found two homemade bombs, dozens of bullets
\nand shells on the scene after the attack, he said.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla, who
\nbrokered the peace pact, also said the attackers were "well-
\ntrained" and able to carry out the attacks quickly, while most of
\nthe security forces were focusing on preparations for President
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri's visit to Tomini Bay near Poso.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Vice President Hamzah Haz said the renewed violence
\nindicated that a certain group did not want to see peace restored
\nin Poso.<\/p>\n
He asked the police to step up vigilance against such a
\ndisturbing group, but he declined to speculate about who might be
\nbehind the attacks.<\/p>\n
"Let's leave this matter to the police to investigate," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
In Bandung, TNI chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto said he
\nbelieved the fresh violence was not simply a "crime, but (was)
\npolitically motivated".<\/p>\n
Commenting on the findings of munitions produced by Army-owned
\nPT Pindad at the scene, he said it did not necessarily mean the
\nmilitary was involved in the Poso attacks.<\/p>\n
"The weapons and ammunition circulating in Indonesia normally
\nbelong to TNI. But some of the arms have been confiscated or
\nstolen from us, or there are indeed rogue soldiers who sell their
\nmunitions to others," Endiartono said.<\/p>\n
Local Muslim figure Sulaiman Mamar, who led the Poso peace
\ntask force, said it was difficult to believe that local people
\nwere involved in the renewed attacks, arguing they had made it
\nclear that they were sick of fighting.<\/p>\n
Endiartono said the TNI was ready to support the police and
\nrestore security in Poso, if the situation turned for the worse.<\/p>\n
Separately, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu blamed
\na "lack of seriousness" in dealing with the Poso conflict for the
\nfresh unrest there.<\/p>\n
"Police and military officers were pulled out, so this has
\ncome to pass. Then we sent and withdrew them, again and again. It
\nshows there is no serious handling, as this has continued for two
\nyears," he said in Bandung, West Java.<\/p>\n
Both Endiartono and Ryamizard declined to speculate about the
\nattackers and urged the people not to believe reports that
\npointed to the TNI over the Poso issue.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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