U.S. diplomats visit Palu

U.S. diplomats visit Palu

PALU, Central Sulawesi: Senior American diplomats Phillip L.
Antweiler and Mara A. Kaplan visited the Central Sulawesi police
headquarters on Friday and discussed security issues with top
police officers in the province.

In the meeting, the diplomats queried Brig. Gen. Aryanto
Sutadi, the chief of the provincial police, on the current
security situation in the province, particularly in the religious
violence-prone area of Poso regency. They also asked about
potential conflicts ahead of the direct elections for the leaders
of regional governments in the province this year.

Sectarian conflict broke out in the religiously divided
regency of Poso in 2000, claiming an estimated 2,000 lives. The
conflict spread to other cities in the province, including its
capital Palu. The conflict died down after a government-sponsored
pact in 2002, but sporadic attacks and bombings still occur,
sparking concern among many, including foreigners. -- JP