National News - October 03, 2006
Ruslan Sangadji
The Jakarta Post
Poso
The Central Sulawesi Police say they have identified four people whom they believe were involved in the disturbances in Taripa, East Pamona district, Poso regency, on Sept. 29. They are still at large.
Two police cars and two motorcycles, and the Taripa police post were damaged in the incident.
Central Sulawesi Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. M. Kilat said Monday that the police had not yet made any arrests as they still lacked sufficient evidence. They are now questioning the four as witnesses after they were identified as having participated in the riot.
"There are some legal steps we have to go through before charging and arresting them," said Kilat.
The disturbances followed last week's execution of three Christians by firing squad in Palu.
The three were executed after being convicted of inciting violence against Muslims in 2000. The executions went ahead despite the opposition of many Christians.
Sporadic unrest in Christian-dominated areas erupted after the executions.
According to Kilat, most of the suspects are from outside Taripa, but are from within the Poso area. The instigators had taken advantage of the padungku (harvest) festival in Taripa village, which was attended by thousands of people from a number of villages in East Pamona district, as well as neighboring North Pamona.
The festival is usually marked by heavy drinking. "The provocateurs benefited from the situation to mobilize the crowd," said Kilat.
The situation in Poso appears to be getting worse, with angry mobs blocking the Trans-Sulawesi highway. In Kayamanya in Poso city, a public bus plying the Parigi-Makassar route was stopped and its passengers attacked and beaten.
One passenger, Jelin, 20, who suffered wounds to his back and head, is still being treated at the Poso General Hospital.
Kilat said that the attack was carried out by about five unidentified persons wearing masks.
Another victim, Ebiet, said that he and his three companions were abducted for two days in South Pamona. However, he was eventually freed although two of his friends, who were of a different faith, continued to be detained.
Ebiet said in Palu on Saturday that the assailants, numbering around 10 people, wore masks. They appeared out of the bushes as Ebiet's car approached. "Four of us were in the car. Myself and a friend of mine were released but they kept the other two, who are Christians," he said.
A police post was set on fire in Poso on Sunday. The arson attack took place as Muslim residents in Gerbang Rejo were enjoying their breaking-of-the-fast meals. They tried to put out the fire but to no avail. No one saw the perpetrators.
In Kawua and Sayo, gunshots were heard in the two subdistricts, which mark the demarcation line between Christian and Muslim communities, at around 10:30 p.m. local time. A resident from Lombogia subdistrict, Muhammad Rasyid, said he heard five shots, adding that local people had remained calm.
Meanwhile, in order to help contain the situation, a meeting between representatives of the Muslim and Christian communities was held Saturday under the sponsorship of the Poso regental administration.
The meeting was chaired by Poso Regent Piet Inkiriwang, who urged religious figures to help persuade their followers not to be easily provoked by third parties.***
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