Security operation in Poso extended

Ruslan Sangadji and Irvan NR, The Jakarta Post, Palu, Central Sulawesi

The major police operation "Sintuwu Maroso", aimed at maintaining security in the troubled regency of Poso, has been extended for another six months, a top police officer said on Tuesday.

"Another stage of the operation was completed in December. But after an evaluation we have decided to extend it for another six months, starting in January this year," operation commander and South Sulewesi provincial police chief Brig. Gen. Taufik Ridha said.

The police made the decision after consulting with the Poso regent, the governor of South Sulawesi and the chief of the Tadulako resort command, which oversees South Sulawesi, Taufik said.

Public perceptions that the security situation in Poso was still unstable meant the heavy police presence in the region needed to continue, he said.

Some 7,000 personnel from the police's Mobile Brigade (Brimob) continue to patrol hot spots and are deployed in security posts in Poso. They come from Brimob's headquarters in Kelapa Dua, North Jakarta, the East Java and the South Sulawesi provincial police. Assisting them is a unit of detectives from the National Police Headquarters in Jakarta. This force is supported by about 900 Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel.

South Sulawesi, especially the Poso regency, has been subject to tight security measures after bloody sectarian violence rocked the regency in 2000. Over 2,000 people have been killed in the conflict in recent times.

In a separate development, the South Sulawesi Prosecutor's Office said it was ready to prosecute 16 people suspected to be involved in an attack in Beteleme in the Morowali regency.

The attack, which claimed three lives and burned down 35 houses, happened on Oct. 10 last year.

Prosecutor's office spokesman Firdaus Jahja said on Tuesday all the dossiers of the 16 suspects had been completed. "But we are waiting a decision from the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights on the place of the trial," he said.

The ministry will decide whether the trial is held in Palu, the capital of South Sulawesi or in the Morowali regency.

"Due to security reasons, we want the trial to be held in Palu," Firdaus said.