Security authorities begin disarming people in Poso

Erik W., The Jakarta Post, Palu

Starting Friday, security forces in Poso, Central Sulawesi, will conduct a door-to-door search for weapons still in the hands of Muslims or Christians who are not complying with the peace agreement signed by their leaders in late December.

The search operations for weapons will cover the district capital town of Poso, as well as Poso Pesisir, Tojo, Malei, Lage, Ampana, North, South and East Pamona and Morowali.

Central Sulawesi Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Agus Sugianto explained that the operation would aim to scour the area for various weapons, including home-made weapons, and that should prevent the recurrence of inter-religious conflicts in the area, which had killed hundreds of people.

"We are not expecting any problems in our weapons search operations as all field personnel have been equipped with enough knowledge and skills," the police spokesman said.

The security personnel are equipped with metal detectors so that they will be able to find weapons hidden in houses or even buried underground.

They will also be supplied with necessary documents to carry out their duties.

Meanwhile, the secretary of the Central Sulawesi Church's Crisis Center in Tentena, Noldy Tacoh, warned the security forces to conduct the search operations professionally so that it would not create any unnecessary uproar.

"I hope the security forces do not try to plant weapons in certain places and then point fingers at certain people as the owners," Noldy added.

The operation is mandated by the peace agreement signed in Malino, South Sulawesi, by representatives of both sides.

The operation will be led jointly by Sr. Comr. Sukirno and Col. (infantry) Zainal Chaidir, and will involve 4,000 police and military personnel.

When asked what the security forces will do when they find weapons, Agus Sugianto explained that they would confiscate the weapons and then question the owners.

The owners would then be legally processed in accordance with Emergency Law No. 12/1951 on the ownership of weapons.

He explained that the security forces had given enough time -- two months -- for the people to hand over their weapons voluntarily.

Thus far, more than 34,000 weapons have been submitted by their owners to the security forces.

If some people still had weapons they would face legal proceedings, Agus said.

After the weapons search operation was begun, Agus said, starting on March 7, the security forces would conduct search operations for anyone from other areas of the country, particularly those suspected of fomenting the violence.