ABC AUSTRALIA, 12/04/2004 22:10:44
Spectre of religious violence hangs over Sulawesi
Indonesia has flown more than 200 extra paramilitary police to a religiously-mixed
district after an attack on a church over Easter weekend injured seven people.
The shootings revived fears of a return to Muslim-Christian battles in the Poso district
of Central Sulawesi.
National police spokesman, Brigadier General Sunarko Danu Ardanto, says around
200 reinforcements from the paramilitary Brimob unit were flown to Poso following the
shootings in Poso Pesisir on Saturday evening.
Police said at least one gunman opened fire on a choir practice in a Pentecostal
church in Kilo village.
Up to 1,000 people were killed in sectarian battles that broke out in Poso in 2000.
The government brokered a shaky peace deal in December 2001 but sporadic violence
continued.
12/04/2004 22:10:44 | ABC Radio Australia News
© 2001 Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
