Military to stage war games in restive regency of Poso

Badri Djawara, The Jakarta Post, Palu

The Indonesian Army, Navy and Air Force will stage joint war games exercises in Poso, Central Sulawesi, according to military officials, who added that the drills will take place irrespective of ongoing strife in the area.

"There will be no military operations in Poso," Chief of the Army's Strategic and Reserve Command Lt. Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu said here Sunday; they are strictly normal, he added, and take place twice a year.

"I came here only to survey the field for the military exercise which must be separated from the planned security restoration operation in the regency," he told reporters at the Mutiara Airport, just before leaving the province after a two-day visit.

He added that the joint exercise will be under the supervision of local police, and military command.

In addition, Ryamizard said such exercises of the joint Reactive Deployment Strike Force (PPRC) have already taken place in Soroako, Kalimantan and Irian Jaya, and will be carried out in North Sulawesi next year.

PPRC comprises the Army Strategic and Reserve Command (Kostrad) and the task forces from the Army, Navy and Air Force. The force is equipped with airborne infantry, seaborne vessels, and spy planes.

During his visit, Ryamizard was accompanied by Army special force commander Maj. Gen. Amirul Isnaeni and his subordinates Maj. Gen. Maparepa and Maj. Gen. Djoko Santoso, among others. The high-ranking officers were guided by host Tadulok military commander Col. Suwahyuhadji.

Addressing questions about whether the visiting top brass will find the defense pouches of the embattled locals, Ryamizard said that such pouches do not exist.

"The region is divided into two: the white group or Muslims who occupy Poso, while the red group, or Christians, occupy Tentena," he said.