Police to grill 16 alleged masterminds in Poso unrest
Police to grill 16 alleged masterminds in Poso unrest
La Remy and Muhammad Nafik, The Jakarta Post, Palu/Jakarta
Central Sulawesi Police chief Brig. Gen. Zainal Abidin said on
Monday his office would soon summon at least 16 people suspected
of masterminding or provoking unrest in the conflict-torn regency
of Poso.
He said the names were revealed during questioning by a
convict, Domingus da Silva, who has been sentenced to death for
mass killing during the two-year violence in Poso that ended in
December 2001. Domingus, a native of Flores, led a militia group
that supported Christians fighting Muslims during the bloodshed.
"Today (Monday) we have questioned Domingus, and chief of
provincial police detectives Sr. Comr. Tatang Somantri is now
preparing documents to summon those named by Dominggus," Zainal
said.
Earlier last week, Domingus told the media the 16 names
included former secretary of the Poso administration Jahya
Patiro, priests Agustina Lumentut and Papasik, plus Kristian
Rongko and Tungkanan.
"They should be arrested for mobilizing people to launch
attacks, arson and killings," Domingus said at Petobo prison in
the provincial capital, Palu.
He claimed that he, along with Marinus Riwu and Fabianus Tibo,
both also facing death sentences, was "trapped" by Agustina into
take the blame for instances of past violence in Poso.
"We have been victimized. They are the ones who killed people,
but we are imprisoned ... I cannot accept this," Domingus said.
He said local security authorities should arrest the 16 people
if they wanted peace restored in Poso. He added he was prepared
to provide evidence against them.
Zainal said some of the names had been interrogated on their
role in the sectarian conflict, which has killed some 2,000
people, but could not say what was the outcome.
"That's why we will question again those people in the near
future," he said.
The local police were also rumored to have arrested Renaldy
Damanik, known to be an extremist based in the Tentena area, for
stirring up a spate of recent attacks in Poso.
Damanik, speaking to The Jakarta Post on Monday, confirmed he
had been identified for arrest by local security forces, but
could not say why he remained free.
"I am ready to be arrested if it is based on sufficient
evidence of my involvement in the violence," he said.
Damanik was among the Christian delegates who signed a peace
deal to end the Poso conflict in the South Sulawesi hill resort
of Malino last December.
He later resigned from the working group tasked with
disseminating the outcome of the 10-point Malino agreement,
demanding that the security forces arrest perpetrators of recent
attacks made after the peace pact.
Damanik and many other Christian signatories boycotted a
second round of last week's peace talks in Palu held to quell the
unrest.
The 16 were apparently not suspected of masterminding and
provoking renewed attacks in Poso over the last three months,
which mostly targeted Christians.
Sporadic violence resurfaced despite the second peace deal
last week.
The latest unrest erupted on Sunday night when at least three
bomb explosions rocked Poso. There were no reports of casualties
or damage.
However, at least four people, including a two-year-old baby,
were killed, and another person was seriously wounded in
Saturday's attack on Kayumba village, Mori Atas subdistrict,
Morowali regency, bordering Poso.
Spokesman for the Central Sulawesi Police Adj. Sr. Comr. Agus
Sugianto said 43 houses and eight shops, one car and four
motorcycles had also been set ablaze.
He said the police and military found 14 homemade firearms and
400 bullets after the attack by unidentified gunmen.
Based on the evidence, the security forces managed to identify
the attackers but were waiting for the "proper time" to capture
them, Agus said, without elaborating.
No arrests have been made yet, despite the recent deployment
of reinforcement troops to boost security in Poso.