Mob attacks police station in Poso

Mob attacks police station in Poso

La Remi, The Jakarta Post, Palu, Central Sulawesi

Reinforced security forces were on alert in North Lore
subdistrict, part of the conflict-torn regency of Poso, on Monday
after a rampaging mob attacked a local police station after
police refused to hand over a suspect in the killing of a local
resident.

No casualties and injuries were reported after Sunday night's
attack, but part of the North Lore Police Headquarters in Wuasa
were seriously damaged after the rioters stoned it.

Dozens of residents from Wuasa, the main town in North Lore,
marched on the headquarters to demand that Haeruddin, 33, a
suspect in the killing of 18-year-old Albert, be given to them so
they could dispense mob justice.

The police's refusal to hand over Haeruddin, a man of Bugis
origin who works as a civil servant at the Palu transportation
office, triggered the crowd to begin stoning the station.

The mob then turned their attention on members of the Bugis
ethnicity, forcing many to flee in fear.

Haeruddin became involved in a quarrel with Albert, a local
Christian youth, after a drinking session on Sunday evening.

Albert died from stab wounds to the stomach after the clash.

Central Sulawesi Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Agus Sugianto
said crowds continued to gather in certain places on Monday.

However, he said the situation was under control after the
immediate deployment of about 100 members of the police's elite
Mobile Brigade (Brimob).

He said Haeruddin was taken to the Poso Regency Police
Headquarters on Monday in anticipation of a possible attack in
Wuasa.

Central Sulawesi Police chief Brig. Gen. Taufiq Ridha flew to
the scene by helicopter on Monday to monitor the security
situation in the hilly town, while Brimob officers stood guard.

"The family of the victim has apologized to the local police
chief and has promised to settle the riot in a communal way,"
Taufik said.

The communal way means that local residents will repair the
damaged police office, he added.

Poso has been plagued by three years of religious fighting
between Muslims and Christians. About 2,000 people have been
killed since 2000. Hundreds of thousands of others have been
forced to flee their homes.

North Lore, home to a diverse ethnic mix, is a subdistrict in
Poso regency but has escaped the worst of the war.

A peace deal signed in December 2001 between leaders of the
warring factions has managed to significantly reduce the
bloodshed in Poso, but sporadic violence still erupts.

Meanwhile, up to 400 Brimob officers arrived in the Central
Sulawesi capital of Palu on Monday and were immediately
dispatched to Poso for a six-month tour of duty as part of the
routine rotation program.

At least 240 of the officers were from National Police
Headquarters in Jakarta. The rest were from East Kalimantan
province.

"They will replace police officers who have completed their
six-month tour in Poso," Taufik said after arriving back from
North Lore.

"So there are no reinforcements of police officers in Poso,"
he said.