Poso activist denies military accusation

Ruslan Sangadji
The Jakarta Post
Palu

A civil society activist in Poso, Central Sulawesi, denied Friday military accusations that he had been involved in the violence that followed the executions of three Catholics.

Iskandar Lamuka, director of Poso-based NGO the Institute for Empowering Civil Society, said he had been called by the Poso Police for questioning.

"I've received a letter from the police asking me to attend a questioning session on Monday. I'll be there and will explain what really happened," he said.

On Thursday, Wirabuana Military commander Maj. Gen. Arief Budi Sampurno named Iskandar as one several non-governmental activists and local officials he believed were behind the violence in the aftermath of the executions of the Poso Three.

Fabianus Tibo, Marinus Riwu and Dominggus da Silva were found guilty of leading a Christian militia that launched a series of attacks in Central Sulawesi in May 2000, and were sentenced to death in 2001.

Their Sept 22. executions triggered violence in the province and in East Nusa Tenggara, where da Silva was from. In Poso, angry Taripa villagers in the North Pamona district stormed a police station and set fire to three cars, while the town itself has been rocked by several recent bombings.

Poso military command chief Lt. Col. Indra Maulana Harahap, following the orders of Arief, officially reported Iskandar to the Poso Police for defamation after he gave an interview to local radio station 68H on Oct. 2. Iskandar says he believes he did not defame any individuals or institutions in the interview.

"(I was only saying that) there are certain groups that intentionally provoke residents to trigger open conflict and legitimize the police in declaring a civil to emergency situation," he said.

Iskandar said Arief had accused him of provoking residents to resort to violent acts.

"I never said anything like that. I never accused TNI as (Arief) said. The accusation is groundless. (Arief)'s statement is misleading," said Iskandar, who is also an executive of the Poso Center NGO.

Before setting up his civil society institute, Iskandar, along with Poso community figure Yus Mangun, worked assisting conflict victims in Poso who were fleeing to Palu. He also pushed for the disclosure of the details of a Poso humanitarian fund corruption case that involved several important officials, a move that allegedly helped make his office a bomb target.

Meanwhile, the Poso Center has said it intends to prepare several lawyers to accompany Iskandar during his Monday questioning.

"We believe Iskandar is innocent, it's just the Wirabuana Military commander who doesn't want to be criticized. if he wanted to have dialog, things would clear up," said Mahfud Masuara, the center's secretary.

He said individuals, NGOs and religious groups had all criticized the way the authorities had handled Poso and the Military's decision to deploy troops.

He said the violence was evidence of the government's failure and that it and the authorities should be held responsible.

"We also want a review of the troop presence in Poso because they haven't made the situation there any better," Mahfud said.***