Muslims in tense Poso prepare for Idul Fitri

Eva C. Komandjaja and Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

The conflict-ridden town of Poso in Central Sulawesi is calm before the Idul Fitri holiday, a city spokesman says, despite a series of violent incidents, including the beheading of three Christian schoolgirls and a deadly clash between the police and the Madi religious sect.

Abdul Haris Rengga said the situation was normal in the city and the Ramadhan fair at the town square had stayed open until Wednesday.

"The market is not only visited by Muslims but by Christians as well," Abdul said.

Idul Fitri prayers in Poso would be conducted in the Sintuwau Maroso field while the takbiran chanting parade welcoming the Idul Fitri would also be attended by officials from the Central Sulawesi Christian Church (GKST), he said.

Separately, Poso deputy police chief Comr. Ricky Naldo said police, along with soldiers and residents, would ensure security ahead of Idul Fitri especially in mosques and churches.

However, a 32-year-old Muslim, Muhammadong, said believed this year's Idul Fitri would not be as festive as last year's after the schoolgirl murders.

"The locals are still traumatized by last year's bombing that killed 16 people since it was near the Idul Fitri holiday as well," Muhammadong said.

He said Muslims in Poso hoped this year's holiday would not be tainted with any further bombings or killings.

Three high-school girls aged between 15 to 17 were beheaded by six assailants dressed in black on Oct. 29. In Palu subdistrict, four people died when police clashed with what they called a "deviant" religious sect on Oct. 25.

Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) secretary-general Ichwan Sam said the beheadings had failed to provoke another Muslim and Christian conflict in the region because followers of the two religions were convinced the crime had nothing to do with religious sentiments.

Poso is the site of a two-year sectarian conflict that ended in 2001 and where more than 1,000 people died.

Ichwan, who recently visited Poso, said people of the religiously divided town had demanded the government take action against the perpetrators, instead of just calling for calm.

"During my two-day visit to the town, I met religious leaders, both Christians and Muslims. They told me that it was impossible such heinous murders had been ordered by religious leaders. They called the murders serious crimes and wanted the government to investigate the case," Ichwan said held at the MUI office on Tuesday.

"I must say that any party who intends to create violence in Poso will be disappointed, because the incident will not affect the relationship between Christian and Muslim followers there," he said.

He noted that the town had remained calm during the burial of the three girls.