Legal process to continue against Damanik: Police

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

National Police Chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said on Friday that legal proceedings against Rev. Renaldy Danamik would continue despite increasing doubts over the legality of his arrest.

"The legal process will continue against him as we are certain that our allegations are true," Da'i said after a meeting with Vice President Hamzah Haz.

Danamik, one of the Christian leaders who signed the Malino peace agreement to end the long-running conflicts between Muslim and Christian communities in Poso, Central Sulawesi, was arrested at the Police Headquarters in Jakarta last week for alleged possession of illegal weapons.

Police investigators said that they found several home-made rifles and bullets in Danamik's car, but the Christian leader disavowed ownership of the weapons, accusing the police of planting the weapons in his car.

Attempts to arrest Danamik in Poso were foiled by his congregation, prompting police to invite him to Jakarta for questioning. He was declared a suspect on Tuesday.

In Poso, Central Sulawesi Police Chief Brig. Gen. Zainal Abidin said on Friday that the security condition in Poso remained calm after the arrest of Damanik.

"The stronghold of Damanik's followers in Tentena regency is also calm," Zainal was quoted as saying by Antara.

Meanwhile, at least 28 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Poso, Central Sulawesi are planning to meet and formulate programs to put an end to the violence that has claimed thousands of innocent lives.

The two-day meeting, which starts on Saturday, will try to find a comprehensive solution to the conflicts and ensure a fair distribution of aid in the strife-torn regency.

"An unfair distribution of aid could create new tension among victims and this has to be improved through better coordination among non-governmental organizations involved in distribution of relief goods," head of the Poso Peace Team Darwis Waru said.