Tentena still tense after bus bombing<\/p>\n
Jupriadi, The Jakarta Post, Poso, Central Sulawesi<\/p>\n
Tension remained prevalent in the predominantly-Christian town of
\nTentena over the weekend following a series of violent incidents
\nwhich have claimed the lives of local residents.<\/p>\n
Some residents in Tentena, located about 45 kilometers south
\nof the Central Sulawesi town of Poso, said on Saturday that they
\nwere sick of being victims and would continue to protest the
\nsluggish investigation into the June 5 bus bombing which has now
\nkilled five and injured 17 others.<\/p>\n
The victims were mostly from Tentena. Yanti Alimbuto, 25, who
\ndied at the Tentena General Hospital on Thursday, became the
\nlatest casualty of the June 5 blast which destroyed an Antariksa
\npublic bus plying the Palu, Poso and Tentena routes.<\/p>\n
Other fatalities were identified as Edy Makawimbang, Edy Ulin,
\nGande Alimbuto and Lastri Octovia Alimbuto.<\/p>\n
The bus, carrying 25 passengers, exploded in the Landaiga
\nhamlet of Toini village, Poso Pesisir district.<\/p>\n
Some local residents said on Saturday that security conditions
\nmight look stable on the outside but had the potential of explode
\nsince many residents were \"angry, emotional and disappointed\" due
\nto the incident.<\/p>\n
They said the bombing was a threat to the Malino peace deal
\nsigned by representatives of Muslim and Christian groups on Dec.
\n20 last year to end a three-year sectarian conflict in Poso.<\/p>\n
Tentena has also been sheltering Christian refugees who fled
\nthe bloody clash.<\/p>\n
\"Locals here are still angry. We have become extra sensitive
\nand cautious about everything. We are sick of becoming the
\nvictims ... the Malino peace deal had after all been signed. We
\nare really disappointed,\" Chris, a Tentena resident, told The
\nJakarta Post.<\/p>\n
\"You should be careful during your stay here. Don't make
\nmatters worse. People here don't like outsiders, particularly
\nafter the recent incidents.\"<\/p>\n
National Police Chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar had earlier said that
\nthe bombings that had rocked the regency in the five months since
\nthe Malino peace deal was signed were the work of \"outsiders\".<\/p>\n
In the past two months, three incidents have caused losses to
\nand scared residents of Tentena.<\/p>\n
The first came on May 16, when Agus Pasolle was murdered in
\nthe Masane hamlet of Lakalemba village, in Poso Pesisir district.
\nThe second was the bus bombing and the latest was a clash in the
\nKayamanya Atas area of Poso district on June 9, which left a
\nChristian, identified as Risman Pantoli, dead.<\/p>\n
Tentena Police subprecinct chief First Insp. Palulun Sesia
\nsaid that even as the two murders were purely criminal cases,
\npeople remained restless and the recent bombing had worsened the
\nmood of local residents, who are already tired and frustrated of
\nhaving lost friends and family in the sectarian conflict.<\/p>\n
Deputy Poso Police chief Comr. Yusman Jaya said on Saturday
\nthat police were still investigating the bus bombing.<\/p>\n
\"We are still searching for the suspects. I am sure those
\nresponsible for this bombing are provocateurs who do not want
\nsecurity conditions in Poso to return to normal. I hope there are
\nno more fatalities as a result of the blast,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The government-initiated Malino peace accord, named after the
\ntown in South Sulawesi where the peace talks were held, was
\nexpected to bring to an end the violent conflict in the regency,
\nwhich has left thousands dead.<\/p>\n
The peace deal called for the disarming of the civilians,
\nsending back to their hometowns migrants who arrived in Poso
\nafter the conflict began, repairing houses and buildings damaged
\nin the violence, pulling out troops from the area and encouraging
\nvillagers to set up neighborhood patrols to prevent outbreaks of
\nviolence.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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