Church leaders want probe of attacks

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.