Friday, January 26, 2007

Police say Poso victims involved in criminal acts

National News - January 25, 2007
Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Poso

Dead victims of a gunbattle between police and suspected militants in Poso, Central Sulawesi on Monday had been involved in a criminal activities in Poso and Palu, police said Wednesday.

The victims had not been included on police wanted-lists but had played large roles in several criminal acts in the province, Central Sulawesi Police chief Brig. Gen. Badrodin Haiti told The Jakarta Post.

One policeman and 13 civilians were killed during Monday's hostilities. A further seven civilians were wounded and dozens arrested.

Badrodin said several of the victims had allegedly been involved in the fatal shootings of Ivon Nathalia, Sitti Nuraini, Helmy Tombulung and an unidentified Christian citizen on a cacao plantation in Sayo village. These killings all occurred in 2005.

This information was based on a statement made by one of the captured fugitives, identified as Wiwin Kalahe, he said.

Wiwin said a two victims, identified as Umang and Kana, were allegedly involved in the 2005 killing of Puji Astuti. Puji was a lecturer at the Agriculture School of Tadulako University in Palu.

Another victim, Ebnal Tao, was also alleged to have been involved in the shooting of two police officers, First Brig. Agus Sulaiman and First Brig. Sugito.
"All of the criminal acts took place in 2005, so all of those killed in the clash were criminals," Badrodin said.

The victims had protected several civilians wanted by police as well as assemble weapons and explosive substances, he said. "They also terrorized the people of Poso by detonating their homemade bombs," Badrodin said.

"We're very optimistic that the capture of a number of people on our wanted list will help uncover the involvement of civilians in a series of criminal acts in Poso and Palu," he said.

Meanwhile, a group of Poso residents expressed their concern over the recent tough stance taken by police, which they said led to the outbreak of hostilities.
Yus Mangun, a member of the Central Sulawesi Legislative Council, said he supported strong law enforcement in Poso but that efforts must be conducted in a just way and not be repressive.

"I've received information from the people of Poso that a number of those who died were civilians who happened to pass by the site of the hostilities," he said.
Yus cited the police shooting of Ustadz (Muslim preacher) Ardian who at the time of hostilities was one kilometer away from the action.

Badrodin said, however, that Ardian was an alias used by the Javanese man, who he claimed had taken part in a war in Afghanistan. The man had later traveled to Poso and trained several locals in the assembling of weapons and bomb making, he said.
Badrodin declined to disclose Ardian's real name.

Indonesian Military Air Chief Marshal Djoko Suyanto said in Jakarta on Wednesday he would deploy 200 soldiers to assist police officers in Poso.

"We are ready to deploy our soldiers under the condition that we receive a formal letter asking for assistance," he said.

A comprehensive approach, which involved civilians, was needed to end the conflict, he said.***

Police say Poso victims involved in criminal acts

National News - January 25, 2007
Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Poso

Dead victims of a gunbattle between police and suspected militants in Poso, Central Sulawesi on Monday had been involved in a criminal activities in Poso and Palu, police said Wednesday.

The victims had not been included on police wanted-lists but had played large roles in several criminal acts in the province, Central Sulawesi Police chief Brig. Gen. Badrodin Haiti told The Jakarta Post.

One policeman and 13 civilians were killed during Monday's hostilities. A further seven civilians were wounded and dozens arrested.

Badrodin said several of the victims had allegedly been involved in the fatal shootings of Ivon Nathalia, Sitti Nuraini, Helmy Tombulung and an unidentified Christian citizen on a cacao plantation in Sayo village. These killings all occurred in 2005.

This information was based on a statement made by one of the captured fugitives, identified as Wiwin Kalahe, he said.

Wiwin said a two victims, identified as Umang and Kana, were allegedly involved in the 2005 killing of Puji Astuti. Puji was a lecturer at the Agriculture School of Tadulako University in Palu.

Another victim, Ebnal Tao, was also alleged to have been involved in the shooting of two police officers, First Brig. Agus Sulaiman and First Brig. Sugito.
"All of the criminal acts took place in 2005, so all of those killed in the clash were criminals," Badrodin said.

The victims had protected several civilians wanted by police as well as assemble weapons and explosive substances, he said. "They also terrorized the people of Poso by detonating their homemade bombs," Badrodin said.

"We're very optimistic that the capture of a number of people on our wanted list will help uncover the involvement of civilians in a series of criminal acts in Poso and Palu," he said.

Meanwhile, a group of Poso residents expressed their concern over the recent tough stance taken by police, which they said led to the outbreak of hostilities.
Yus Mangun, a member of the Central Sulawesi Legislative Council, said he supported strong law enforcement in Poso but that efforts must be conducted in a just way and not be repressive.

"I've received information from the people of Poso that a number of those who died were civilians who happened to pass by the site of the hostilities," he said.
Yus cited the police shooting of Ustadz (Muslim preacher) Ardian who at the time of hostilities was one kilometer away from the action.

Badrodin said, however, that Ardian was an alias used by the Javanese man, who he claimed had taken part in a war in Afghanistan. The man had later traveled to Poso and trained several locals in the assembling of weapons and bomb making, he said.
Badrodin declined to disclose Ardian's real name.

Indonesian Military Air Chief Marshal Djoko Suyanto said in Jakarta on Wednesday he would deploy 200 soldiers to assist police officers in Poso.

"We are ready to deploy our soldiers under the condition that we receive a formal letter asking for assistance," he said.

A comprehensive approach, which involved civilians, was needed to end the conflict, he said.***

Poso tense as hunt continues for militants

National News - January 24, 2007
Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Poso

Police continued their hunt for suspected militants in Poso on Tuesday, a day after 13 people and one policeman were killed in a bloody clash between police and suspects.

Central Sulawesi Police Brig. Gen. Badrodin Haiti blamed the armed civilians for triggering the clash by throwing handmade explosives at the officers.
He said his office had issued shoot-on-sight instructions for armed civilians. "So, I'm responsible for the incident because it was according to my instructions," Badrodin told The Jakarta Post Tuesday.

More than 50 other alleged militants are believed to have escaped the crackdown, fleeing to nearby hills and jungles.

Badrodin said some of the escapees were thought to have undergone combat training in Afghanistan and the insurgency-wracked Southern Philippines. "They are dangerous because they still have automatic weapons and ammunition," he told Associated Press. "We are searching for them."

National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Sisno Adiwinoto said in Jakarta on Tuesday that the firearms used by the terror group came from a neighboring country. "We suspect they were brought from the Philippines," Sisno said.

Defense Ministry secretary-general Lt. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said the ministry supported the police's crackdown on armed civilians, because their weapons were not used to protect the country but to shoot officers.

"If these actions cause victims, it's because of that gunfire," he was quoted as saying by Detikcom.

Police said they seized a large haul of ammunition and bombs from the alleged militants' base in Tanah Runtuh district in Poso. Tensions in the area have been running high since three Christians were executed in September for their roles in sectarian violence in the province.

Authorities have arrested 24 other civilians, including two on the wanted list. They are Tugiran and Wiwin Kalahe al Tomo.

The two fugitives' families denied they were arrested, however, saying the two surrendered out of fear that they would be shot by the police.

Hundreds of residents in Poso turned out for the burial of the victims.
A day after the crackdown, Poso remained tense, with schools and many stores staying closed despite the arrival of 200 reinforcements from the National Police.
Police imposed tighter security checks on roads heading in and out of Poso, and traffic was much lighter than usual.

Muslim leaders criticized the crackdown, however, saying it would fail to put an end to the real problems in conflict-torn Poso. Nahdlatul Ulama chairman Hasyim Muzadi urged President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to take over the matter personally.

"But the problem is, our President never takes over a problem. He will just set up a team. He should oversee this matter," he said in Malang, East Java, on Tuesday.
He said the Poso conflict has reached an "emergency" level since it involves armed
civilians. Setting up a government team, he said, would not solve the problem.

Muhammadiyah chairman Din Syamsuddin expressed his concern and urged the government not to be heavy-handed in its efforts to combat terrorism.

"We support the fight against terrorism, but not repressive acts. Such acts will not solve the problem but could cause new wounds among the people. The most important thing is for the police to uncover those responsible for the Poso conflicts," he said in text message sent to the Post Tuesday.

Separately, Trimedya Panjaitan, chairman of the House of Representatives' Commission III on security affairs, said the House would send a team to investigate the crackdown. (06)

-- Wahyoe Boediwardhana contributed to the story from Malang, East Java.