Poso gets new military commander

POSO, Central Sulawesi: Lt. Col. Kurnia Dewantara, the chief of the 1307 district military command in Poso, has been replaced by Lt. Col. IGK Ray Gunawan on Wednesday.

The replacement was made only a few days after attacks in three villages in Poso claimed nine lives. The reasons for the replacement are still unclear.

Kurnia will now assume the post of chief of the 1304 district military command in Gorontalo, North Sulawesi.

The chief of the 132 Tadulako resort military command, Col. Muh. Slamet, in his orders at the handover ceremony on Wednesday, instructed the new chief to closely monitor the security situation in the region, which includes Poso and Morowali, following recent disturbances there.

Masked gunmen attacked three villages in Poso on Oct. 12 leav ing nine people dead and 11 others injured. A similar incident occurred earlier on Oct. 10 in the neighboring regency of Morowa li, where three people were killed. He asserted that the Indonesian military (TNI) had to support the police in maintaining security in the region.

The ceremony was also attended by the chief of the Central Sulawesi Provincial Police, Brig. Gen. Taufiq Ridha, and officials from the local administration. -- Antara