Angry crowd siege police after death of terror suspect

Irvan NR, The Jakarta Post, Palu, Central Sulawesi

Poso Police headquarters was besieged on Sunday by thousands of people protesting the death of terrorist suspect Hamid Sudin, who was shot and killed by police attempting to arrest him in relation to the bloody attacks on three Christian villages in Central Sulawesi on Oct. 12.

The protesters from coastal areas of Poso, Central Sulawesi province began picketing outside police headquarter in Poso town on Jl. Pulau Sumatra at midday. The crowd quickly grew as local residents joined in.

The situation deteriorated during the afternoon and security personnel moved in to disperse the crowed by force about 5 p.m. local time.

Police said Hamid, 22, was shot and killed on Saturday when he attempted to attack police.

His two companions, identified as Zukri and Irwan bin Rais, surrendered to police without a fight. Zukri was reportedly released on Saturday evening.

The raid was carried out after a tip off from local residents who had heard gunfire.

When police arrived at the scene, they saw three armed men. Police ordered them to surrender but Hamid allegedly attempted to attack security personnel. He was immediately shot in the chest.

Hamid was rushed to Undata General hospital in Palu but was pronounced death shortly after arrival. His family buried him at around 01:00 p.m. local time Sunday.

Police also found evidence at the scene of the shooting, including a gun, an air rifle, a green beret, one black-sack filled with cables and several rounds of ammunition.

Police said the three were wanted in connection with the Oct. 12 attacks in Poso regency and neighboring Morowali regency.

At least 10 people were killed in the attacks the government has linked to regional terrorist network Jamaah Islamiyah (JI).

JI has been blamed for the Bali blasts last Oct. 12, 2002 and the JW Marriott Hotel attack on Oct. 5, 2003. At least 202 people were killed in the Bali bombings and 12 in the JW Marriot attack.

Authorities say JI is tied to al-Qaeda, an international terrorist network of Osama bin Laden, the principal suspect of Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington that killed more than 3,000 people.

Meanwhile, security personnel prevented residents of Tentena from entering Poso on Sunday.

The residents were on their way to Poso to seek clarification of the deaths of Central Sulawesi's Christian Church (GKST) treasurer Yuhanis Tajoja, 60, and his driver Buce, whose bodies were found near Pesisir Poso on Sunday.

Police are yet to comment on the deaths.

The two bodies were evacuated to Poso General Hospital before being moved to Palu, according one of the volunteers. Thus far, police are yet to give comments about the deaths.

People from Poso and Tentena were involved in the prolonged sectarian conflict that erupted in the regency in 2000 and claimed about 2,000 lives over two years.

The government brokered the Malino peace deal in December 2001, but sporadic bloodshed continued. The situation is again beginning to deteriorate between Muslims and Christians.