Poso calm as more troops arrive

Poso calm as more troops arrive

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Bandung

Calm returned on Monday to Poso regency, Central Sulawesi, after
around 300 paramilitary police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) personnel
arrived in the religiously divided town.

Residents in the attack-hit villages of Saatu, Pantangolemba
and Pinedapa resumed their daily activities. No further violence
was reported after Sunday's dawn attacks there by masked gunmen,
who killed at least nine people.

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono ordered intelligence officers to
intensify their investigations into the unidentified attackers.

"I think the gathered evidence, such as homemade bombs and
ammunition, are quite sufficient for the police to start an
investigation into the incident," he told press in Jakarta.

"Please, do not hesitate to take stern measures against the
perpetrators," he added.

He also ordered the Indonesian Military (TNI) to assist the
police in restoring security and order in Poso. "The government
will send more reinforcement personnel to the regency if deemed
necessary."

Speaking at the same media briefing, National Police deputy
chief Comr. Gen. Kadaryanto said at least one person was arrested
in connection with the renewed attacks, but refused to name the
suspect.

Central Sulawesi Police chief Brig. Gen. Taufik Ridha said his
officers were hunting the armed men.

In an earlier attack last Thursday, three people were killed
when unidentified gunmen raided Beteleme, a mainly Christian
village in neighboring Morowali regency, and burned 30 homes and
a church.

The targets of Sunday's attacks were also dominantly Christian
villages.

Taufik said the National Police had dispatched intelligence
officers and a bomb squad to help uncover the incidents in Poso
and Morowali.

National Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Zainuri Lubis, speaking in
Jakarta, said the simultaneous attacks were well planned to
destabilize Poso after the December 2001 peace deal.

A few hours before the attacks, cellular phone services and
intercity phone lines were cut off, he said. As of Monday, the
cellular network remained inactive in Poso.

Zainuri said police found nails laid out on the streets
linking Moengko and Kayamanya subdistricts in an apparent attempt
by the attackers to obstruct the arrival of security forces.

The police also found two homemade bombs, dozens of bullets
and shells on the scene after the attack, he said.

Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla, who
brokered the peace pact, also said the attackers were "well-
trained" and able to carry out the attacks quickly, while most of
the security forces were focusing on preparations for President
Megawati Soekarnoputri's visit to Tomini Bay near Poso.

Meanwhile, Vice President Hamzah Haz said the renewed violence
indicated that a certain group did not want to see peace restored
in Poso.

He asked the police to step up vigilance against such a
disturbing group, but he declined to speculate about who might be
behind the attacks.

"Let's leave this matter to the police to investigate," he
said.

In Bandung, TNI chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto said he
believed the fresh violence was not simply a "crime, but (was)
politically motivated".

Commenting on the findings of munitions produced by Army-owned
PT Pindad at the scene, he said it did not necessarily mean the
military was involved in the Poso attacks.

"The weapons and ammunition circulating in Indonesia normally
belong to TNI. But some of the arms have been confiscated or
stolen from us, or there are indeed rogue soldiers who sell their
munitions to others," Endiartono said.

Local Muslim figure Sulaiman Mamar, who led the Poso peace
task force, said it was difficult to believe that local people
were involved in the renewed attacks, arguing they had made it
clear that they were sick of fighting.

Endiartono said the TNI was ready to support the police and
restore security in Poso, if the situation turned for the worse.

Separately, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu blamed
a "lack of seriousness" in dealing with the Poso conflict for the
fresh unrest there.

"Police and military officers were pulled out, so this has
come to pass. Then we sent and withdrew them, again and again. It
shows there is no serious handling, as this has continued for two
years," he said in Bandung, West Java.

Both Endiartono and Ryamizard declined to speculate about the
attackers and urged the people not to believe reports that
pointed to the TNI over the Poso issue.