Regent urges press not to overly expose Poso cases
Regent urges press not to overly expose Poso cases
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Poso Regent Piet Inkiriwang asked the press not to give too
much coverage to the latest violence in the area for fear it
could harm the hard-gained peace in the religiously divided
Central Sulawesi town.
"I am afraid it could damage the reputation of Poso, which has
returned to calm after the sectarian violence," he said on
Thursday following a meeting with top security officials at the
Office of the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and
Security Affairs.
He added that attacks like those that have occurred in Poso
over the last month could happen anywhere.
Poso was divided by a conflict between Muslims and Christians
in 2000 and 2001 that left over 1,000 people dead. Despite a
government-sponsored peace deal signed at the end of 2001,
sporadic violence has continued to occur in the area.
The latest incidents include the beheadings of three Christian
schoolgirls by unidentified men late last month, and the shooting
of two teenage girls this week. The two victims are still be
treated at a local hospital.
The police are investigating the two incidents, which some say
are aimed at reigniting sectarian violence in the area. Local
authorities have arrested five men as suspects in the grisly
murders of the three schoolgirls. Police are questioning the
suspects, who according to reports include a former Army soldier.
There have also been reports that police have arrested a man
thought to be behind the shooting of the two schoolgirls.
Inkiwirang, however, denied suggestions this latest violence
is aimed at reigniting the religious conflict in Poso.
"This recent violence has nothing to do with religious
conflict. None of the cases were caused by religious sentiments,"
he said.
However, the regent was unable or unwilling to speculate on
the motives for the attack if not religion.
Separately, a group of human rights activists called on the
government to set up an independent fact-finding team to
investigate the series of attacks in Poso.
"The beheadings and the shooting of the girl students are
extraordinary crimes, because the victims were underaged and were
never involved in the conflict," said Usman Hamid from the
National Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence.
When Muslims were preparing to celebrate the Idul Fitri
holiday, three female students -- Theresia Morangke, 15, Alfita
Poliwo, 17, and Yarni Sambue, 15 -- were attacked and beheaded by
unidentified assailants on Oct. 29 as the three were walking to
school.
Another girl, Noviana Malewa, 15, survived the barbaric
attack. She is in the intensive care unit at a police hospital in
the provincial capital Palu, where she is being treated for
serious facial injuries.
The case raised concern among religious leaders and the
Vatican condemned the beheadings as a "barbaric attack".
Just over a week after that incident, two female students --
Ivon Maganti, 17, and Siti Nuraini, 17, -- were shoot by
unidentified men while sitting in front of their house. The two
remain in critical condition at Poso Kota General Hospital.
Religious leaders and politicians have blamed the central
government for failing to ensure security in the area.