Ruslan Sangadji, Palu – Around 1,000 civil servants in Poso, out of around 8,000 left homeless by violent conflict between 1998 and 2000, are still without permanent housing, an official said Monday.
Deputy Regent of Poso Abdul Muthalib Rimi told The Jakarta Post that most of the victims, whose houses were gutted by fires, came from the Lombogia and Kayamaya subdistricts in downtown Poso.
The two subdistricts were among the areas worst-hit by the violence, he said.
Abdul Muthalib said the civil servants returned to rebuild their houses after the signing of the December 2001 peace agreement. But he said later flare-ups in violence destroyed those houses.
"They rebuilt their houses using bank loans so many of them were confused about how they could repair their houses and repay their loans at the same time," he said.
Abdul Muthalib said most of the civil servants are now forced to rent homes or live with someone else, while their family members are left behind in kampongs.
Civil servants were unable to properly carry out their work as they carried the burden of working while trying to rebuild their homes and pay off debts, he said.
The deputy regent said the Central Sulawesi provincial administration provided Rp 5 million (US$526.31) last year to the head of each family to help with the burden. The money was mostly used to build modest wooden houses.
The central government also helped by building 1,009 new houses. However, Abdul Muthalib said he could not say if the houses had actually gone to those from Lombogia and Kayamaya. He said he would have to check later to see if that was the case.
Meanwhile, Central Sulawesi Governor Bandjela Paliudju reiterated Tuesday his belief that the situation in Poso had returned to normal. He said those involved in spreading terror and violence in Poso had already been arrested and tried.
"There is no longer a problem in Poso. I've received reports from the local administration there that activity in the community is already back to normal," he said.
Paliudju urged the residents of Poso to join together to maintain the peace, and to resist any agitation to further violence.
The administration has launched a Poso reconstruction and rehabilitation program, named Panca Poso Recovery, which deals with security, population, land ownership, environment and community economic issues.
Paliudju said the central government has earmarked Rp 80 billion for the provincial administration to help with the program.
Reflecting to improved security situation, Central Sulawesi Police chief Brig. Gen. Badrodin Haiti said Friday his headquarters had withdrawn at least five companies, comprising around 500 personnel.
"This withdrawal was done because security in Poso had improved, especially after the arrest of people on the police's wanted list who were hiding in Tanah Runtuh," he said.
In a related development, suspected militant Muhammad Ardin, who has been detained at Central Sulawesi Police headquarters, apologized for his alleged involvement in earlier violence. "I'm really sorry and pledge to go against anyone who intends to ruin the peace in Poso. I'm ready to die to maintain peace in Poso. Poso belongs to all of us so we have to maintain it together," he said.