Police arrest troublemakers near Palu

Police arrest troublemakers near Palu

JAKARTA (JP): Local police in Central Sulawesi have arrested
seven people for allegedly attempting to disrupt the closing
ceremony of the 19th National Koran Reading competition in
Donggala, near the provincial capital Palu.

The suspects were identified only as Ar, Yan, Arl, Fai, SR,
Ry, and MS, most of them residents of Poso, where weeks of
sectarian riots have claimed at least 120 lives.

Antara reported that the police searched the crowds at the
ceremony in JabalNur subdistrict, Donggala, following reports
that a group of people were hurling stones at the crowd attending
the event on Thursday night. The contest was closed by Vice
President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Police confiscated several traditional swords and bows and
arrows from the arrested men.

Chief of Donggala Police Col. Sudargo said on Friday the
suspects were still being questioned.

While appealing to local residents to exercise restraint,
Sudargo said he had ordered a thorough investigation of the
incident to see if there were any political motives behind it.

"I hope everybody responds to the incident cautiously and
doesn't listen to rumors from people who wish to extend the
sectarian riots now raging in Poso," Sudargo said.

Over the past two weeks, police in Palu have foiled several
attempts to smuggle weapons and munitions into the province by
air.

In Makassar, Wirabuana Military Commander Maj. Gen. Slamet
Kirbiantoro said security personnel were ready to stop rioters
wishing to add to the troubles in Poso, some 240 kilometers
southeast of the provincial capital of Palu.

"We've already heard that certain religious groups from Palu
will invade the remote town a few days after the closing of the
Koran competition. Even though it is only a rumor, we have
anticipated it and raised the security alert level to the
highest," he said.

In the past couple of weeks, hundreds of weapons and thousands
of rounds of ammunitions have been seized from the warring camps.

Slamet said at least 120 people had been killed and hundreds
others injured in the clashes between Christians and Muslims,
which have came on the heels of similar sectarian conflict in
Maluku.

Around 5,000 people have sought refuge in makeshift camps in
neighboring areas, government offices and military and police
headquarters, he said.

No less than 6,000 other refugees have streamed into Palu.

Slamet said that troops in the area, totaling 1,500 personnel,
had also been tasked to help reconstruct the strife-torn areas.

"Sporadic conflicts are still taking place here and there but
the security forces are maintaining their firm actions. The
shoot-on-sight order is still effective," he said.

Meanwhile, non-Muslim residents in Makassar have been
prevented from going about their daily activities as students are
continuing to stop people and check their identification cards.

"We fear that the students may hold us hostage and harass us.
We're better staying at home," said Julius, 23, from Flores, East
Nusa Tenggara.

The students reportedly conducted stop-and-search operations
in front of the Indonesian Muslim University campus on Jl. Urip
Sumohardjo, and Muhammadiyah University and IAIN Alauddin
campuses on Jl. Allaudin.

Even Muslim locals expressed anger at the student's actions.

"Those students are very rude. They yelled and knocked on our
car windows," Mina, a housewife who was among those who had her
ID checked, said.

KH Abdul Djalil Tahir, a famous local Muslim leader who runs
the Bombara Islamic boarding school, said the students did not
represent Muslim community in the city. He also urged security
authorities to take measures against them. (27/edt)