PGI asks govt to act on Poso rioting

PGI asks govt to act on Poso rioting

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI)
called on authorities to keep a close eye on Central Sulawesi
following recent riots in Poso, warning the area could be used as
a springboard to incite unrest in neighboring Maluku.

"We are concerned by the possibility that the acts of violence
in Poso could be used to turn Central Sulawesi, particularly
regencies and district in the eastern part of the province, into
a springboard for certain groups to enter Maluku and North
Maluku," it said in a statement here on Saturday.

PGI called on the National Police and the Indonesian Military
to watch the area carefully, both on land and sea. It further
urged authorities to ensure that a repetition of the violence in
Poso did not occur.

The group asked for a thorough probe into the unrest in Poso
to discover the motives behind the sectarian clash.

Poso was hit by violence last week following a dispute between
groups of teenagers from Lambogia and Kayamanya villages. The
ensuing riot continued for four days despite the deployment of
around 300 soldiers to the area.

Six people were killed in the unrest, 31 others were injured,
200 houses and buildings were damaged and some 2,000 people were
forced to flee the area.

A church, two Christian high schools, one elementary school
and a police dormitory were among the buildings burned down
during the rioting.

In the statement, signed by PGI secretary-general J.M.
Pattiasina, the group expressed fear the Poso incident would
ignite further unrest using religious symbols across the
country.

Meanwhile, residents of riot-torn villages in Poso, both
Muslim and Christian, continued to trickle into military
installations on Saturday.

Antara reported that the number of displaced people taking
shelter in military barracks belonging to 711 Company in Kawua
district alone has reached 2,200, and quadrupled since the first
wave of refugees arrived on Monday.

Hundreds of people living in Bukit Bambu village, which was
unaffected by the rioting, were also seen flocking into the
refugee camp. Some of them said they would not return home until
security and order in the town was restored.

"We've been haunted by rumors that our village will be burned
down like Lambogia and Kasintuwu villages," one of the Bukit
Bambu residents told Antara.

Commander of the company 711 Capt. Wahyu said that most of the
refugees were women and children. He said there were still enough
rooms for the displaced people in the barracks.

"No problem, there are enough places to take shelter. But we
need help because we lack sanitary facilities, food and clothes,"
Wahyu said. He added no serious diseases were reported thus far.

The military has also provided shelters for refugees in the
compounds of the district military office, Tagolu and Tempera
military posts.

The local administration office reported that at least four
tons of rice and hundreds boxes of instant noodles have been
distributed to the refugees. (01/dja)