Tension rising in Ambon, Poso

Tiarma Siboro and Oktavianus Pinontoan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Ambon

Tension has been rising in conflict-ridden Maluku and Poso, Central Sulawesi, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Wednesday.

In Poso, where an estimated 2,000 people have been killed over the past two years, tension has compelled Jakarta to send in a 100-strong company from the National Police Mobile Brigade, he said.

The high tension in Poso was reported following the Supreme Court's announcement on Monday that it had rejected appeals launched by three men sentenced to death for masterminding riots in Poso, Central Sulawesi, last year.

The three, Fabianus Tibo, 55, Dominggus da Silva, 37, and Don Marinus Riwu, 43, were responsible for a series of murders during bloody riots between May 23 to June 30, 2000, which pitted Muslims against Christians.

In Maluku, the security authorities have embarked on an information campaign to calm the public down following reports of an impending massive attack.

As in Poso, the three-year-old conflict in Maluku and North Maluku has pitted Muslims against Christians.

Susilo declined to be specific on which side has been planning a large-scale attack.

"The security authorities are informing the public that they are working hard to prevent such an attack. We hope that people will not be provoked by the unfounded reports," Susilo said.

The latest situation in Maluku and Poso, as well as in restive Aceh, was discussed in a weekly meeting between ministers and high-ranking officials under Susilo's coordination.

The sectarian conflict in Maluku, which has spread to North Maluku, has led to foreign involvement. A Malaysian Muslim hardliner recently caught in Jakarta for a spate of bombings had admitted involvement in Maluku.

Maluku was calm but tense on Wednesday. Christians heeded a call to stop activity between Tuesday, Nov. 20, and Thursday Nov. 22, in protest of last week's attacks in which 10 people were killed in two incidents in Ambon.

Economic activities in Ambon were crippled on Wednesday as government offices, shops and traditional markets were closed.

Two Christian newspapers, Suara Maluku and Siwalima suspended publication in solidarity of the call for a strike. The Muslim newspaper Ambon Ekspres appeared as usual.

Employees of the Christian newspapers said that they chose not to publish because all their agents and employees were on strike.