Tension escalates in Poso: Police<\/p>\n
MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): The South Sulawesi Police sent
\n300 personnel from its Mobile Brigade (Brimob) unit to the
\nrestive regency of Poso in Central Sulawesi following an
\nescalation in sectarian tension, South Sulawesi Police chief
\nInsp. Gen. Sofyan Jacob said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
With the sending of the 300 personnel to Poso, 100 officers
\nwho have been posted there for six months would be recalled,
\nSofyan said.<\/p>\n
Speaking to The Jakarta Post after leading the ceremony to
\nmark the departure of the 300 personnel here, the police chief
\nsaid that tension in the town of Poso had been intensified with
\nsporadic violence reported.<\/p>\n
Reports from Poso said on Wednesday that the situation in Poso
\nhad been worsening since early January.<\/p>\n
Locals said that one night hundreds of masked people garbed in
\nblack intercepted a Kijang van with eight people in it heading
\ntoward Tentena, some 70 kilometers from Poso. The unidentified
\nassailants said they were suspicious that the Kijang was carrying
\nexplosives. They let the people continue their journey after
\ndamaging the van.<\/p>\n
Last week, a number of unidentified people stopped a public
\nbus in Poso. They then vandalized the bus belonging to NV Haji
\nKalla before allowing the driver to proceed.<\/p>\n
Another incident took place on Jan. 15 when another group of
\npeople intercepted a speeding Kijang van, saying that the van was
\nprobably carrying bombs. The van was also damaged. No fatalities
\nensued from the incidents.<\/p>\n
The latest violence took place on Tuesday when a man who was
\nworking with seven other men on a river project was shot by
\nunidentified snipers.<\/p>\n
Local police confirmed the report, saying that Ngardiman was
\nshot in the chest by a handmade gun. The police did not identify
\nthe attackers.<\/p>\n
The recent unrest has forced hundreds of Poso residents to
\nseek refuge mostly in Palu, the capital of Central Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
Conflicts between Christians and Muslims have rocked Poso for
\nyears. The feud started sometime in 1985, but serious attempts by
\nthe military and police to deal with the violence have been
\nundertaken since the May 1999 outbreak of bloodletting which
\ncontinued until early 2000. At least 300 people have been killed
\nin the Poso sectarian conflicts.<\/p>\n
At least two people were arrested for their involvement in the
\ndeadly riots. One of them, Cornelis Tibo is facing trial in Palu
\nfor masterminding the mayhem. (24\/27)<\/p>",
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