Six arrested over fresh clash in Poso<\/p>\n
Badri Jawara
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nPalu<\/p>\n
Central Sulawesi Provincial Police confirmed on Monday that
\nsix people of the 42 detained for questioning were interrogated
\nover Saturday's sectarian clash in Tabalu village, some 20
\nkilometers north of Poso, in which one police officer was killed.<\/p>\n
Spokesman for the Provincial Police Adj. Sr. Comr. Agus
\nSugianto said in the province's capital of Palu that the other 36
\npeople were still being questioned over the clash between Muslims
\nand Christians.<\/p>\n
Agus said the Poso Police station was handling the case,
\nassuring the public that charges would be laid against those
\nfound guilty of taking part in the clash.<\/p>\n
Agus said a member of the National Police's Mobile Brigade
\nfrom the Central Sulawesi Police Headquarters was killed when
\ntrying to stop the two groups on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\"Soon after the clash erupted at about 9 p.m. on Saturday,
\nBrigade and Army members in the Poso regency moved to intercept
\nthe two warring groups. Second Brig. Ardiansyah, 22, was shot
\ndead in the clash.\"<\/p>\n
Agus did not elaborate any further, but said Ardiansyah had
\ngraduated from Police Brigade training nine months ago. He said
\nthat he had yet to receive a report on the number of civilians
\nkilled in the clash.<\/p>\n
Interreligious clashes have been rampant since the 1980s. The
\nnumber of victims from both sides is uncountable.<\/p>\n
In the 1990s, hundreds were reportedly killed during the
\nprolonged discord.<\/p>\n
The government has apparently found it difficult to deal with
\nreligion-based conflict.<\/p>\n
Minister of Religious Affairs Said Aqil Almunawar said on
\nSunday in Palu that religious harmony was the top priority on the
\nministry's agenda.<\/p>\n
\"Religion is the moral and spiritual basis for all individuals
\nand it needs extra attention. Nowadays, many religious followers
\nhave spoiled their religion with their misconduct.\"<\/p>\n
\"There is a crisis in religious harmony in the country.
\nTherefore, religious leaders should sit down together to discuss
\nthe latest developments and what is going on in society,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The ministry is establishing a secretariat for religious
\nharmony on Jl. Kramat Raya, Central Jakarta, Said Aqil noted.
\n\"Hopefully religious leaders will come regularly to the
\nsecretariat to talk over any religious problems in society.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/six-arrested-over-fresh-clash-in-poso-1447893297",
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