ABC AUSTRALIA, 13/08/2002 09:11:00
Sectarian strife in Central Sulawesi
Tensions have flared anew between Muslims and Christians in Indonesia's troubled
region of Central Sulawesi after one person was found dead and three people were
reported missing over the weekend.
The latest incidents in the Poso regency of Central Sulawesi followed the death last
week of an Italian tourist shot dead by unidentified gunmen, when his bus passed
near the Christian enclave of Tentena.
Reuters newsagency says Jakarta, which is trying to dispel an image of ethnic,
religious and separatist turmoil, is pouring more troops into the area.
Clashes since late 1998 between Christians living in Poso's lakeside hills and
Muslims near the seaside have resulted in two-thousand people being killed until a
December truce put an end to the worst of the violence.
On Monday, the official Antara newsagency reported that negotiators reached
agreement to end all forms of security disturbances.
13/08/2002 09:11:00 | ABC Radio Australia News
© 2001 Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
