The Jakarta Post, November 04, 2006
Police hunt Poso suspects despite militants' anger
Ary Hermawan and Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta, Palu
National Police chief Gen. Sutanto said Friday that authorities would continue to
pursue 29 Muslim radicals allegedly involved in recent violence in Poso and Palu,
Central Sulawesi, despite resistance from hardline groups.
Sutanto said he was positive that the groups would eventually help police arrest the
suspects. "We are not setting any time frame for the groups to bring them to us," he
said.
He said he believed the groups knew the whereabouts of the 29 militants and that
cooperation with the police was important.
On Thursday, the police made public photos of the 29 men, whom they believe are
still hiding in the province.
The men are thought to be members of the Tanah Runtuh Muslim militant group
based in Gebang Rejo village and the Kayamanya group in Kayamana village in Poso.
Poso Islamic Struggle Forum chairman Adnan Arsal demanded Thursday that the
police clear the names of the suspects or risk the situation in the area worsening.
"If the perpetrators of violence in Poso before the 2001 Malino Peace Accord have not
been arrested, the 29 suspects should be treated accordingly," he told Antara.
He warned that their arrests would spark anger from Muslims and trigger more unrest
in the province. He added that he wanted to know why the police had failed to
immediately arrest and punish the perpetrators of violence in the region.
The police recently arrested 15 people for a series of attacks since 2001 in which
mainly Christians were targeted.
The 15 also belonged to the Karamanya and Tanah Runtuh Muslim militant groups.
Meanwhile, the police said they were yet to name any suspects in the murder of Rev.
Irianto Kongkoli, who was shot dead by masked gunmen last month.
Central Sulawesi police chief Badrodin Haiti told The Jakarta Post that the
investigation had been delayed by the hunt for the 29 militants.
So far 20 people have questioned over the murder of the reverend. "We are still
investigating. Just wait for the result," Haiti said.
Despite assurances from the National Police that the situation in Poso is calm, there
have been recent terror acts in the area. On Friday a can-bomb was placed at the exit
of the province's administration office.
"The bomb was placed there to terrorize Palu residents," Palu Police chief Adj. Comr.
Atrial said.
Hours later, a ticking black backpack was found near the mosque at Elementary
School No. 1 in eastern Palu. Police recovered the bag, which contained clothes and
a clock.
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