Paras Indonesia, January, 12 2006 @ 05:05 am
More Troops Not The Solution To Sulawesi Unrest
By: Roy Tupai
The government has ignored calls for an independent inquiry into ongoing violence and
terror attacks in Central Sulawesi and instead decided to form a new security
command in the province. The result so far? An exchange of fire between rival military
police and officers, a small explosion near a church and a fire at local government
buildings.
There were no casualties in any of the latest incidents, which occurred over late
Monday (9/1/06) and early Tuesday, but analysts said the unrest highlighted the
failure of the government's security approach to the violence.
Human rights groups have complained that sending reinforcements to Central
Sulawesi is a waste of money and will not halt the bloodshed because members of
the security forces have been linked to the sectarian and communal violence that has
plagued the province since 2000.
Monday evening's clash and explosion occurred in the conflict-torn city of Poso on the
eve of the Islamic holy day of Idul Adha – the feast of the sacrifice – which
commemorates Abraham's willingness to kill his son for God, only for a sheep to be
substituted as the sacrificial object. At least 4,000 security personnel had been
deployed in Poso to safeguard the holiday.
Conflicting reasons were given for the cause of the clash between the Indonesian
Defense Forces (TNI) and Mobile Brigade (Brimob) police.
Chief of the newly formed Central Sulawesi Security Operation Command
(Koopskam), Inspector General Paulus Purwoko, said the violence was sparked after
two men riding on a motorbike taunted a unit of soldiers who were securing locations
about to hold Idul Adha prayers.
He said the soldiers, believing the two men were plainclothes Brimob officers, went to
the local police headquarters at the former Alamanda Hotel at 6pm to search for the
pair, only to come under fire from police.
The two sides exchanged fire for about 10 minutes. Purwoko said they were not firing
at each other, but only shooting into the air.
According to the police's version of events, a quarrel erupted between TNI personnel
and police at Poso's Central Market. Police claimed the soldiers started the squabble,
which led to an exchange of fire on Jalan Sumatra nearby the market and police
headquarters.
Poso Police chief Rudi Sufahriadi said the clash was merely due to a
misunderstanding between individuals and did not indicate a lack of unity between the
police and TNI. He said the commanders of the two units would be questioned over
the gunfire, which had caused locals to panic.
Purwoko attributed the clash to poor discipline, saying it would not be tolerated.
Meanwhile, Vice President Jusuf Kalla said the clash was merely "due to a
misunderstanding between two security personnel".
Soldiers and police have often clashed across Indonesia since the two underfunded
forces were separated in 1999. Much of the violence has been attributed to arguments
over the control of illegal businesses, such as prostitution, drug trafficking, extortion
rackets and illegal logging. In Central Sulawesi and the Maluku islands, some of the
clashes between the two forces have been linked to religious and communal
differences.
Under the regime of former president Suharto, police were subordinate to the military.
After Suharto was forced to resign in 1998, the police force was made independent
and tasked to deal with crime, while military was relegated to the less lucrative role of
defending the nation from foreign attacks.
Minor Blast
Monday's clash was followed by a small blast at about 8.30pm outside a local
government office opposite the Sion Church on Jalan Poso Raya.
Local police officer First Brigadier Anawir said the minor explosive device was
probably only a firework. He said two people on a motorbike had been seen throwing a
small object into the front grounds of the office of the local government's task force the
handling Poso conflict. "It exploded soon after," he was quoted as saying by detikcom
online news portal.
Central Sulawesi Police chief Brigadier General Oegroseno said an "opportunistic
terrorist group" was responsible for the explosion, as well as a series of recent
bombings and violent attacks in the province. He did not elaborate on the possible
identity of the group, but said it was probably motivated political factors and not linked
to the country's most wanted terrorist, Noordin Mohammad Top.
Fire
Later that night, a fire damaged several buildings at the Poso municipal administration
complex about 20 meters away from the site of the blast. The blaze started at about
12.40am Tuesday and was extinguished three hours later.
Purwoko said there was no evidence of arson. The fire started at the Archive Office
and spread to the Food Regulating Office, Agriculture Office and Health Office.
Police could not confirm reports the fire was sparked by the explosion of an electrical
device in the complex.
Man Released Over Palu Market Bombing
A man detained after a December 31 bomb blast that killed seven people at a
Christian market in Palu was released on January 7 because police could find no
evidence linking him to the attack.
Mulyono (58), who is from Central Java, had denied any involvement in the attack,
saying he had gone to the market to look for a man engaged to his niece.
Police are yet to name any suspects over the attack, although they are still
questioning a man with the initials B.D.
Police are also looking for the driver of a red Isuzu Panther vehicle, which had
allegedly been used to transport the bomb to the market.
Root Cause
Parliament speaker Agung Laksono on Wednesday expressed doubt over the
Koopskam's ability to resolve the Central Sulawesi unrest, saying the government
should immediately focus on finding the root cause of the violence.
"If the root problem is not found, the security disturbances will continue to happen,
despite the presence of the Koopskam," he was quoted as saying by detikcom.
"The occurrence of case after case in Poso and Palu is partly due to the weak
coordination in the field between TNI, the National Police and State Intelligence
Agency [BIN]," he said.
He said Monday's exchange of fire illustrated the poor coordination in the field. "One
side was sweeping and the other side didn't know about it," he said.
Legislators Propose Civil Emergency
Also in Jakarta, legislators said Koopskam lacks the teeth to overcome the Central
Sulawesi violence, so the province should therefore be placed under a state of civil
emergency.
House Commission member I Jeffrey Johanes Massie, a member of the
Christian-based Prosperous Peace Party (PDS), said the latest "bomb" blast was a
major blow to the government.
"If the government no longer has any alternatives and is unable to overcome the Poso
problems… then I agree that that a civil emergency should be implemented," he was
quoted as saying by detikcom.
He said coordination between BIN, police and soldiers was very weak. "It would be
very embarrassing if the government cannot immediately overcome [the problem]," he
said.
Democrat Party member Boy Saul also said a civil emergency should be introduced if
the Koopskam fails. "If the Poso problem cannot be overcome by this means, then
there must be a civil emergency to comprehensively handle the security situation," he
said.
He called for the plan to be socialized so as not to cause any fear among locals. He
said an increase in soldiers and police was necessary. "Because security officials
have been threatened, I will push this proposal at the commission's next meeting with
the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs," he added.
With calls for independent inquiry continuing to fall on deaf ears, it seems unlikely
that peace will be brought to Central Sulawesi any time soon.
Copyright (c) 2005 - PT Laksamana Global International. All rights reserved
|
