TNI deploys one more battalion to Poso<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
One battalion of troops is being sent to help the police maintain
\nlaw and order in the Central Sulawesi town of Poso following a
\nseries of incidents that it is feared could reignite sectarian
\nconflict in the area.<\/p>\n
The reinforcement troops arrived in Poso shortly after a
\nhomemade bomb was found in front of the home of a local community
\nfigure on Thursday as Muslims celebrated the first day of the
\nIdul Fitri holiday.<\/p>\n
Military (TNI) spokesman Maj. Gen. Kohirin Suganda said the
\nbattalion was attached to the Makassar-based Wirabuana Military
\nCommand, which is responsible for military affairs in Sulawesi.
\nAnother battalion has been stationed in Poso ever since the
\ngovernment launched an operation code-named Sintuwu Marosos to
\nrestore law and order code in the area in 2002.<\/p>\n
"We (the TNI) are intensifying our security efforts in Poso to
\nprevent the town from becoming the scene of further disturbances.
\nThe locally recruited troops from the Wirabuana Military Command
\nhave been joined by about one thousand reinforcement troops,"
\nKohirin told Antara on Saturday.<\/p>\n
He dismissed reports that TNI headquarters would deploy more
\ntroops from outside Sulawesi, saying the number of troops in the
\nareas was now enough.<\/p>\n
According to official figures, as of October there were at
\nleast 3,500 military and police personnel deployed in Poso, which
\nintelligence authorities have identified as a "terrorist hotbed".<\/p>\n
Over 1,000 people were killed in a bloody sectarian conflict
\nbetween Muslims and Christians in Poso between 2000 and 2001.
\nPeace, which was officially declared in December 2001, has been
\nput to the test again following the beheading of three Christian
\nhigh school girls on Oct. 29. No one has been arrested or named a
\nsuspect in connection with the triple murder.<\/p>\n
Tension increased on Thursday after a low explosive bomb was
\ndiscovered in front of the house of Gustaf Tajongga, the head of
\nLambogia subdistrict. The police bomb squad safely defused the
\nbomb.<\/p>\n
Sporadic attacks have been occurring since a formal peace
\nagreement was inked in late 2001.<\/p>\n
Religious leaders and politicians have blamed poor law
\nenforcement for the endless cycle of violence in the area.<\/p>\n
People in Poso were not showing fear, however, despite the
\nlatest incidents.<\/p>\n
In Bega and Tagolu subdistricts, Christians visited their
\nMuslim neighbors to greet them for the Idul Fitri holiday.<\/p>\n
"There is nothing to worry about in Poso. People are going
\nabout their work and social activities without fear, even at
\nnight," Deputy Regent Abdul Muthalib Rimi said.<\/p>\n
He expressed regret that the media had portrayed the security
\nsituation in the area as being volatile.<\/p>\n
"The assessment of outsiders is not objective and has created
\nnew problems for the people and government of Poso," Rimi said.<\/p>\n
Despite the series of violent incidents over the past six
\nmonths, government and social activities had not been disrupted,
\nhe added.<\/p>\n
"The incidents were sporadic. Although they may hurt us, they
\ncannot rent us asunder thanks to the leading roles played by
\nlocal government officials and figures who have actively calmed
\nthe people down," said Rimi.<\/p>\n
The people of Poso had never overreacted to the incidents, but
\nhad consistently encouraged the subjecting of the perpetrators to
\nthe full rigors of the law.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tni-deploys-one-more-battalion-to-poso-1447893297",
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