Security operation in Poso extended
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.