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)