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