Tentena still tense after bus bombing

Tentena still tense after bus bombing

Jupriadi, The Jakarta Post, Poso, Central Sulawesi

Tension remained prevalent in the predominantly-Christian town of
Tentena over the weekend following a series of violent incidents
which have claimed the lives of local residents.

Some residents in Tentena, located about 45 kilometers south
of the Central Sulawesi town of Poso, said on Saturday that they
were sick of being victims and would continue to protest the
sluggish investigation into the June 5 bus bombing which has now
killed five and injured 17 others.

The victims were mostly from Tentena. Yanti Alimbuto, 25, who
died at the Tentena General Hospital on Thursday, became the
latest casualty of the June 5 blast which destroyed an Antariksa
public bus plying the Palu, Poso and Tentena routes.

Other fatalities were identified as Edy Makawimbang, Edy Ulin,
Gande Alimbuto and Lastri Octovia Alimbuto.

The bus, carrying 25 passengers, exploded in the Landaiga
hamlet of Toini village, Poso Pesisir district.

Some local residents said on Saturday that security conditions
might look stable on the outside but had the potential of explode
since many residents were "angry, emotional and disappointed" due
to the incident.

They said the bombing was a threat to the Malino peace deal
signed by representatives of Muslim and Christian groups on Dec.
20 last year to end a three-year sectarian conflict in Poso.

Tentena has also been sheltering Christian refugees who fled
the bloody clash.

"Locals here are still angry. We have become extra sensitive
and cautious about everything. We are sick of becoming the
victims ... the Malino peace deal had after all been signed. We
are really disappointed," Chris, a Tentena resident, told The
Jakarta Post.

"You should be careful during your stay here. Don't make
matters worse. People here don't like outsiders, particularly
after the recent incidents."

National Police Chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar had earlier said that
the bombings that had rocked the regency in the five months since
the Malino peace deal was signed were the work of "outsiders".

In the past two months, three incidents have caused losses to
and scared residents of Tentena.

The first came on May 16, when Agus Pasolle was murdered in
the Masane hamlet of Lakalemba village, in Poso Pesisir district.
The second was the bus bombing and the latest was a clash in the
Kayamanya Atas area of Poso district on June 9, which left a
Christian, identified as Risman Pantoli, dead.

Tentena Police subprecinct chief First Insp. Palulun Sesia
said that even as the two murders were purely criminal cases,
people remained restless and the recent bombing had worsened the
mood of local residents, who are already tired and frustrated of
having lost friends and family in the sectarian conflict.

Deputy Poso Police chief Comr. Yusman Jaya said on Saturday
that police were still investigating the bus bombing.

"We are still searching for the suspects. I am sure those
responsible for this bombing are provocateurs who do not want
security conditions in Poso to return to normal. I hope there are
no more fatalities as a result of the blast," he said.

The government-initiated Malino peace accord, named after the
town in South Sulawesi where the peace talks were held, was
expected to bring to an end the violent conflict in the regency,
which has left thousands dead.

The peace deal called for the disarming of the civilians,
sending back to their hometowns migrants who arrived in Poso
after the conflict began, repairing houses and buildings damaged
in the violence, pulling out troops from the area and encouraging
villagers to set up neighborhood patrols to prevent outbreaks of
violence.