Six arrested over fresh clash in Poso

Badri Jawara, The Jakarta Post, Palu

Central Sulawesi Provincial Police confirmed on Monday that six people of the 42 detained for questioning were interrogated over Saturday's sectarian clash in Tabalu village, some 20 kilometers north of Poso, in which one police officer was killed.

Spokesman for the Provincial Police Adj. Sr. Comr. Agus Sugianto said in the province's capital of Palu that the other 36 people were still being questioned over the clash between Muslims and Christians.

Agus said the Poso Police station was handling the case, assuring the public that charges would be laid against those found guilty of taking part in the clash.

Agus said a member of the National Police's Mobile Brigade from the Central Sulawesi Police Headquarters was killed when trying to stop the two groups on Saturday.

"Soon after the clash erupted at about 9 p.m. on Saturday, Brigade and Army members in the Poso regency moved to intercept the two warring groups. Second Brig. Ardiansyah, 22, was shot dead in the clash."

Agus did not elaborate any further, but said Ardiansyah had graduated from Police Brigade training nine months ago. He said that he had yet to receive a report on the number of civilians killed in the clash.

Interreligious clashes have been rampant since the 1980s. The number of victims from both sides is uncountable.

In the 1990s, hundreds were reportedly killed during the prolonged discord.

The government has apparently found it difficult to deal with religion-based conflict.

Minister of Religious Affairs Said Aqil Almunawar said on Sunday in Palu that religious harmony was the top priority on the ministry's agenda.

"Religion is the moral and spiritual basis for all individuals and it needs extra attention. Nowadays, many religious followers have spoiled their religion with their misconduct."

"There is a crisis in religious harmony in the country. Therefore, religious leaders should sit down together to discuss the latest developments and what is going on in society," he said.

The ministry is establishing a secretariat for religious harmony on Jl. Kramat Raya, Central Jakarta, Said Aqil noted. "Hopefully religious leaders will come regularly to the secretariat to talk over any religious problems in society."