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.