- December 08, 2007
In response to two blasts in Poso and Donggala regencies, the authorities on Friday stepped up security around the venue of the Poso Lake Festival in Tentena, Central Sulawesi.
Police officers are checking identities of all drivers and passengers coming into the area, and inspecting vehicles and bags being carried by pedestrians.
Upon arrival in Tentena, people have to pass through at least three gates to get to the venue for the culture festival, where they and their belongings are searched. Passengers are required to exit vehicles so officers can search them.
Poso Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Adheni Muhan DP said at least 600 police officers had been deployed to maintain security.
All hotels near the festival have also been subject to stepped up security. Anybody entering a hotel is searched.
These types of security measures were not in place during the last festival in 1997, just before religious violence broke out in the area.
Police also are distributing photos of wanted people, including Iwan Asapa and Upi. The two are believed to belong to a terror network led by Basri, who is thought to be responsible for several attacks in Poso and Palu.
Tight security was taken after two explosions on Wednesday, the night before the opening of the festival in Tentena.
While police say the explosions were caused by firecrackers, some residents claim they were bombs.
"If it was only firecrackers, why is security so tight, and in certain case being exaggerated?" said Sandra Dewi, a resident of Bonesompe village in North Poso district.
The Poso Lake Festival, which used to be an annual international culture festival, is being held this year for the first time since 1997.
Local figures say the festival shows peace has returned to Poso, the scene of a bloody conflict between Christians and Muslims in the early 2000s.
Despite the peace claim, however, a explosion took place in Poso on eve of the opening of the festival, followed by another similar blast in Donggala, 17 kilometers south of Palu.
There has been no official statement from the police on the blasts, but some people believe they were intended to disturb the festival, which is scheduled to be attended by tourist and culture representatives from 10 regencies and mayoralties throughout Central Sulawesi.
"The explosions were a kind of a small-scale terror which was intentionally intended to disrupt the festival," Tahmidi Lasahidi, a sociologist at Tadulako University in Palu, said.
Apart from the security threats, the festival so far has been plagued by poor planning, with numerous events being postponed without prior announcement.
The decorated boat competition, for example, was scheduled to be held Friday morning, but it was delayed until the afternoon with no information being given for the decision.
Central Sulawesi culture observer Nungci Ali said this year's festival was not only about culture and tourism, but also showing the world that conditions in Poso have returned to normal.
He said proof of this was that Muslims and Christians were able to mingle until late into the night at the festival, which opened Thursday.
"This is the condition we want to show to the world," Nungci said.
Sofi Tamuntuan, a resident of Poso, said people were excited about the festival and there were no safety concerns.
"I expected this event for years. I am grateful that I'm able to witness it again," Sofi said.
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