Reinforcements arrive in Poso

Reinforcements arrive in Poso

Ruslan Sangadji and Irvan NR, The Jakarta Post, Poso/Palu

Calm has been restored in the troubled regency of Poso, Central
Sulawesi, on Wednesday after a series of shooting incidents that
killed a reverend and badly injured an academic.

Around 100 police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) personnel arrived in
the religiously divided area from Jakarta to help provide tight
security there, as the late Reverend Freddy Wuisan, was buried
peacefully in a funeral.

At the same time, local leaders met at their legislative
council to discuss the security situation ahead of the April 5
legislative election.

The meeting was attended by Poso Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr.
Abdi Dharma Sitepu, local military commander Lt. Col. IGK Rai
Gunawan, Situwu Maroso Operation task force chief Sr. Comr. M.
Rum, local administration secretary Awad Al-Amri and Poso General
Elections Commission head Yasin Mangun.

Yasin said the meeting could not determine if the election
should go ahead as scheduled on Monday, as the group was waiting
to be updated on the latest developments.

Police and soldiers stationed at a security post in Tumora
village in Poso Pesisir, were continuing to examine cars
traveling to and from the regency, he said.

There are some 3,500 police and soldiers deployed in the Poso
area, which has often erupted into sporadic violence, despite the
2001 peace accord between Muslim and Christian leaders to end two
years of fighting in 2000.

"The task of the police and soldiers there will become
increasingly difficult because they will also have to secure the
April 5 election," Central Sulawesi Police spokesman Adj. Sr.
Comr. Agus Sugianto said in the provincial capital, Palu.

Police were questioning a man of Arab descent who was arrested
on Tuesday night for his alleged involvement in the recent
shootings, he said. Agus refused to name the suspect.

He said the police and soldiers were searching for other
suspects and had strengthened their coordination in Poso to
prevent more attacks.

On Tuesday, Freddy was shot dead in the chest by gunmen. Hours
later Rosia Pilongo, the 36-year old dean of the law school at
Sintuwu Maroso University, was badly injured in a shooting
sustaining wounds to her head and right hand.

The incidents followed another attack on Saturday that killed
Jhon Christian Tanalida, a villager from the Kawua subdistrict.

Abdi said a preliminary investigation showed Rosia was not the
likely target of the gunmen, who apparently wanted to kill the
university's rector J. Kogege.

In 2002, Kogege was shot in the arm while driving his car in
Poso, he said.

Rosia was moved from Poso General Hospital on Wednesday to the
Christian Hospital in Tentena for further treatment after a
bullet was removed from her head.

"(Rosia) has suffered serious bleeding. But we are optimistic
we will be able to save her life," Mappicara, a doctor, said.

Many lecturers and students of the university suspended
academic activities on Wednesday and visited Rosia in hospital.

Abdi said the renewed violence was aimed at trying to create
disturbances in Poso, where peace and security had largely been
restored. Disrupting the elections and revenge attacks were also
likely motives.

Police were still investigating, he said.