211 confirmed dead in Poso communal clashes

211 confirmed dead in Poso communal clashes

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): Wirabuana Military Commander
Maj. Gen. Slamet Kirbiantoro Sulawesi announced here on Thursday
that a total of 211 people had been confirmed dead as a result of
the recent clashes in the Central Sulawesi town of Poso.

A series of joint military and police searches between May 23
and July 4 uncovered 127 bodies in mass graves along Poso River,
39 in Tagolu village, 11 in swamps in Lembah Sintuwu village and
34 in jungle ravines near Pandiri village.

"Latest reports on the fatalities were submitted today. Of the
bodies discovered, some were found in three mass graves in three
separate places," Slamet briefed journalists in his office.

He added the death toll in the violence was expected to rise
as the peacekeeping task force set up by the military command was
continuing to search for more bodies.

Head of the task force, Second Lt. Agus Salim, said that
judging from the ash, coal and charred car tires found at the
graves, 64 of the victims were believed to have been tortured and
burned.

"We found it difficult to identify most of the bodies. And
some of them were found headless," Agus said.

All of the deceased have been buried at Lawanga Islamic
cemetery in the district of Poso, he said.

This, the latest round of sectarian violence, broke out on May
23 and ended on June 4. It followed unrest on April 17 that
claimed two lives.

Observers believe that the Poso communal clashes are connected
with the prolonged violence in Maluku, where more than 3,000
people have been killed since the conflict erupted in January
1999.

Asked about the arrest of 29 military personnel over the
inter-religious riots, Slamet said that seven of them were
believed to have been involved.

"Intensive questioning of the other 22 is continuing," he
said.

Police, however, gave a different body count. Spokesman for
the provincial police Supt. Ismail Bafadal was quoted by Antara
as saying on Thursday in the provincial capital of Palu that at
least 135 people had been confirmed dead in the communal clashes.

He said that the death toll was likely to rise as police were
still continuing their search operation.

Police, Ismail said, suspected that more bodies could be found
in mass graves or abandoned in the jungle.

He said that of 135 bodies, 67 were found in Poso River, 10
were found in bushes near Sintuwu village and 33 more at the
bottom of a ravine near Pandiri hamlet.

Police said that another six victims were killed in the first
wave of violence.

The chief of the provincial commission on human rights, Lies
Sugondo, said that a commission was needed to investigate the
Poso violence.

"Reports on the mass graves should prompt the National
Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) to establish a
commission," she said.

She denied, however, allegations that Komnas HAM had been too
slow in acting on the Poso violence.

"We've been busy with Aceh, Papua, Tanjung Priok and Ambon."
(27/sur/byg)