Church leaders want probe of attacks

Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Palu

Enraged by the latest attacks on churches in Palu, Central Sulawesi, Christian leaders demanded here on Tuesday that the government investigate the bloody incidents thoroughly.

The church leaders urged the police to focus their investigation on the discovery of nine bullet casings, made by state arms producer PT Pusat Industri Angkatan Darat (PT Pindad).

"We demand that the management of PT Pindad be questioned and investigated as to why the weapons and ammunition fell into the hands of irresponsible people," Protestant minister J. Toding said in reading out a statement signed by 20 Palu church leaders, in front of a group of five visiting members of the House of Representatives.

The five legislators who visited the city on Tuesday -- two days after the incident -- included Teras Narang, Muttamimul Ula and Imam Anshori. Unknown assailants sprayed bullets at a Palu church and later detonated a bomb in another church in the city on Sunday night, injuring at least five people.

Toding said that the investigation into PT Pindad would be the key to unraveling the string of mysterious attacks, both in Palu and Poso regency, including those on Sunday.

PT Pindad has produced weaponry exclusively for the Indonesian military (TNI) for years.

As it does not supply parties other than the TNI, the discovery of Pindad weaponry in the aftermath of armed attacks in Palu and Poso -- including on Sunday night -- has led to suspicions that soldiers were involved.

The minister expressed disappointment in the police, who have failed to track down and arrest the perpetrators of the attacks.

The killers of female minister Susianti Tinulele, who was shot dead while she was delivering a sermon in Palu in July, are still at large.

Another Christian leader, Manampiring, urged the government to beef up security around Palu churches ahead of Christmas. "The government has to prioritize security here, otherwise the condition in Palu will become unstable," he was quoted as saying by Antara news agency.

Meanwhile, three victims of Sunday's incident remained hospitalized in Palu as of Tuesday, although hospital staff said their health had greatly improved.