Sectarian strife continues in troubled-torn Poso

POSO, Central Sulawesi (JP): Sectarian clashes in Poso continued on Friday when fresh gunfights between armed people in separate incidents claimed one life.

Gunfights involving residents of Mapane, Satu and Pinedapa villages in the Pesisir Poso district took place at about 7 p.m. on Friday, killing one person.

Dozens of residents' houses were torched in the clamor.

The first gunfight early on Friday was between Christians from Lembomawo village and Muslims from the village of Gebangrejo.

No fatalities were reported in the first clash, but some people were slightly injured.

Central Sulawesi Police chief Brig. Gen. Zainal Abidin Ishak confirmed the clashes. "The clashes erupting on Friday were just the continuation of a series of earlier conflicts. Both the warring groups still bore grudges," he said, after installing his deputy.

"We saw smoke billowing at the clash sites," said spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Agus Sugianto, who accompanied Ishak.

Ishak said that police and Army troops had been working hard to try and curb the clashes.

"We've combed many fragile areas and have conducted search operations among the residents," he said, acknowledging that the Makassar - Poso route was still closed for security reasons.

"I have issued shoot-on-sight orders to deal with anyone provoking a riot in Poso," Ishak said.

On Thursday, Police Mobile Brigade troops shot dead five people who attacked them in the village of Toyado.

The lingering situation has prompted legislators and the warring groups to criticize the regency and provincial administrations.

Legislators had earlier demanded that Poso Regent Muin Pusadan and Central Sulawesi Governor Aminuddin Ponulele resign for failing to curb the violence.

The legislators suggested that a state of civil emergency be declared in the regency as the warring groups had failed to respect the peace deals they had made.

A local Christian, Rev. Renaldy Damanik said that the government had been too lax in dealing with the violence.

Meanwhile, Muslims and Christians have been blaming each other for allowing the situation to deteriorate.

By Friday the situation in Poso was still not fully under control, but it was better than it had been two days before. (24/sur)