Joint security team find bullets on cacao plantation

Ruslan Sangadji The Jakarta Post Palu, Central Sulawesi

A joint police and military team found 47 rounds of ammunition on Wednesday hidden on a cacao plantation in Tojo Una-Una regency, a day after the team uncovered 27 bombs and several guns on a plantation in the neighboring regency of Poso.

The bullets reportedly came from the Army's weapons manufacturer, PT Pusat Industri Angkatan Darat (PT Pindad).

The two discoveries indicate that there are still many civilians in possession of firearms, bullets and bombs in Poso, which has experienced four years of Muslim and Christian violence, said team spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Agil Assegaf.

"In order to find more firearms and bombs, the police and military will intensify our sweeps of those places these items are allegedly being stored," he said.

The team is questioning the owner of the plantation in Tojo subdistrict, Tojo Una-Una regency, where the bullets were discovered on Wednesday.

Agil said the police and military were carrying out the weapons sweeps as part of the security operation Sintuwu Maroso 2004, which began in early January.

He said the joint operation would focus on several districts where much of the violence of the past several years was centered, including Poso Pesisir, Poso Kota, Pamona Utara and Ampana districts.

Security authorities in Poso regency suspect that Ampana had become the base for groups organizing attacks in Poso. Most of the perpetrators of an attack on Beteleme village last year came from the district.

"Ninety percent of the perpetrators of the attack were from Ampana," Agil said.

Three people were killed and 35 houses burned down in the Beteleme attack last October.

Discussing the 27 bombs found on Tuesday, Agil said they had been destroyed.

Despite the discoveries of the weapons, the situation in Poso remained calm on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, charismatic Muslim cleric Yahya Al Amri urged residents to help the police and military find more bombs and guns, in order to prevent future attacks.

Peace in Poso is in the hands of local residents, the cleric said. He said Poso would enjoy peace if residents were willing to put an end to their enmity and to inform security personnel about those responsible for the violence.

"If there is no help from local residents, I believe that thousands of peace agreements will be useless and will only be a waste of money."