Six arrested over fresh clash in Poso

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."