Police find live bombs in conflict-ridden Poso
Police find live bombs in conflict-ridden Poso
Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Palu, Central Sulawesi
Police found at least 27 live bombs during a raid early on
Tuesday in Poso regency, Central Sulawesi, where about 2,000
people died in two years of sectarian clashes from 2000 to 2002.
The homemade bombs discovered in Tabalu village, Poso Pesisir
subdistrict, were believed to be left over from stashed munitions
used in the fighting.
Also found were 17 rounds of ammunition of 5.56 millimeter
caliber, two homemade weapons and two FN colt pistols.
The finding followed tipoffs from local villagers who
contacted the police and informed them of the existence of the
munitions.
"We thank locals for the information. It helped us find the
hidden explosives and other dangerous goods, which, we believe,
are part of munitions used during the sectarian clashes in 2000.
"We are expecting other villagers to have such courage," Poso
Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Abdi Dharma Sitepu said on the
sidelines of a coordinating meeting in the Central Sulawesi
capital of Palu to discuss security ahead and during the upcoming
elections.
In a predawn raid on Monday, the police found dozens of
detonators, a grindstone and welding equipment wrapped in a sack
in Mapane village following a report from local residents.
The equipment is believed to be for making weapons.
Another active bomb was also found a day earlier in a suburban
area in the regency after the police received a report from a
local resident about a suspicious package near a bridge in the
neighborhood of Moengko, close to the border of Kayamanya.
Three other homemade bombs and a firearm were also found early
this month in a raid in Tabalu village, Poso Pesisir subdistrict.
Poso has been subject to tight security measures after bloody
sectarian violence erupted in the regency in 2000.
The bloody clashes largely subsided after a peace accord
between Muslim and Christian leaders was signed in February 2002.
The fragile accord was put to the test when an unidentified
group launched a bloody attack on Beteleme village in Morowali
regency on Oct. 10, which left three people dead and 35 houses
burned down.
Days later, similar attacks hit Poso, leaving at least nine
people dead.
Law enforcers immediately took stern action against suspected
perpetrators accused of having links to regional terrorist
network Jamaah Islamiyah. However, sporadic violence has
continued to take place in Poso.
The police extended a major operation earlier this month for
another six months to maintain security in the religiously
divided town.
The operation is supported by some 7,000 personnel from the
police's Mobile Brigade (Brimob) who have been deployed to hot
spots and security posts across Poso.
About 900 soldiers have been assigned to help the operation.
Meanwhile, Poso Regent A. Muin Pusadan said that Coordinating
Minister for People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla was slated to visit
Poso to attend peace talks with local youths.
During the visit, the minister is expected to hand over 70
rototillers to dozens of cooperatives in Poso and Morowali, which
are managed by youths.