Poso gets new military commander

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the 1307 district military command in Poso, has been replaced by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