Police to grill 16 on 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.