Over 46,500 firearms destroyed in Palu

Over 46,500 firearms destroyed in Palu

PALU, Central Sulawesi: A total of 46,594 home-made firearms
have been destroyed by the authorities in Palu since the Malino
peace deal was signed last December.

Central Sulawesi Police chief Brig. Gen. Zainal A Ishak said
during a ceremony marking the destruction of 12,854 home-made
firearms in Palu on Wednesday that the guns had been surrendered
by the two formerly warring camps.

Besides weapons, 43 marijuana plants and 781 bottles of liquor
were also destroyed during the event.

Poso Regent Abdul Muin Pusadan, the legislative council
Speaker Akram Kamaruddin and other local officials also attended
the event.

Zainal said the marijuana plants were found in North Lore
district, adding that the police would continue their operations
to seize home-made weapons in the district.

Asked about a reduction in the number of security personnel in
the area, Zainal explained that everything depended on the
situation on the ground. "We will discuss it later with the local
authorities."

He said the situation in Poso had been improving since
December. --JP