Fresh Poso conflict claims two lives

Fresh Poso conflict claims two lives

Badri Djawara, The Jakarta Post, Poso

A new clash erupted in Tangkura village, Poso regency in Central
Sulawesi, leaving two more people dead and hundreds of houses
burned in Muslim-Christian fighting.

The violent clashes occurred during a visit by Provincial
Police Chief Brig. Gen. Zainal Abidin to halt the prolonged
sectarian conflict in the war-torn regency.

The first victim was identified as Sarif, 23, and the second
was as yet unidentified.

Tangkura, 22 kilometers away from Poso city, is a neighbor of
Tabalu, Betalemba and Patiunga villages, where five people were
killed in bloody clashes on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.
Three of the dead were members of Muslim militant group Laskar
Jihad (Islamic holy warriors), most of whom have come from Java
to fight the Christians.

On Monday, a church, the largest in Poso, was bombed and later
burned down, presumably by Muslim mobs, which was then followed
by retaliation attacks by Christians.

Dozens of troops and police were deployed to Tangkura, but
they were powerless to halt the violence that involved thousands
of armed civilians.

"The number of attackers is too large for us, so security
forces are unable to stop them," Poso Police Precinct Chief Adj.
Sr. Com. Unggung Cahyono said.

He said the security situation in Poso had actually improved
with the start of Ramadhan on Nov. 16, but turned violent again
as rival factions began to attack each other on Tuesday morning.

Laskar Jihad members admitted on Thursday that their fighters
initiated the attack on Tangkura because, they claim that
Christians had provoked them by allegedly firing their guns when
Muslims were performing subuh (dawn prayers).

"It is true that calm began to return, but then they (local
Christians) triggered a new battle. They even spread negative
rumors to disturb fasting Muslims," a member of the extreme
militia claimed. "Therefore, we will never stop our attacks."

Lt. Col. Dede Kusuma Atmawidjaya, chief of the Tadulako
subdistrict military command, said the conflict in Tangkura
involved around 1,000 people from both sides.

He said he had ordered his troops to step up security in the
ravaged village due to the small number of officers who are
regularly stationed there. "How could eight troops face 1,000
people? It's impossible," he added.

Dede said he needed two battalions (about 1,500 soldiers) to
help the police crack down on illegal guns and sharp weapons.
"It's quite impossible for the local military with a mere 300
personnel in Poso to deter thousands of people here," he added.

The town and its surrounding areas have seen numerous clashes
between Muslims and Christians since May, 2000 which have claimed
more than 2,000 lives.