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