The Jakarta Post, April 20, 2004
Police launch ID raids in Poso in search of gunmen
Irvan NR, The Jakarta Post, Palu, Central Sulawesi
Police further tightened security in Poso regency, Central Sulawesi on Monday by
checking the identity cards of residents in an effort to prevent more attacks by
gunmen in the religiously divided town.
Those who could not produce ID cards would be taken into police custody for
questioning, Central Sulawesi Police chief Brig. Gen. Taufik Ridha said in the
provincial capital of Palu.
He said migrants were required to state their purpose and activities in Poso and local
neighborhood unit heads were asked to be honest in issuing ID cards.
The ID checks were carried out via a house-to-house search for bombs, firearms and
sharp weapons. At least 11 men from Tegal regency, Central Java, reportedly
disappeared in Poso in the last six months.
Taufik said police would also search trans-Sulawesi travellers passing through Poso
and the neighboring regency of Parigimoutong for sharp weapons.
On Sunday, police in Parigi subdistrict, Parigimoutong, arrested at least 13 street
vendors from Jombang regency, East Java.
They were released hours later after producing valid ID cards.
Referring to the recent shootings of a clergyman and a university lecturer by
unidentified men in Poso, Taufik vowed the police would prevent further violence.
Residents in Tentena, a mainly Christian village, who had gathered en masse to
protest the attacks, dispersed hours after hundreds of police personnel arrived at the
scene.
The mass gathering had sparked fears of the renewal of sectarian fighting between
Muslims and Christians. Some 2000 people were killed in two years of sectarian
clashes in Poso since late 1999.
While fighting largely stopped after warring parties signed a government-brokered
peace pact in December 2001, sporadic attacks continued.
Taufik said more attacks were possible in July around the time of the presidential
election.
In the house-to-house search on Sunday in Poso Pesisir subdistrict -- which was
carried out with the assistance of the military after tipoffs from local residents -- police
seized 21 live bombs, a rocket launcher, 17 bows and two homemade firearms, as
well as police and military uniforms.
A day earlier 17 live bombs had been discovered in the same subdistrict.
The bombs had been hidden under a bridge and in a cacao plantation in Masani
village.
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