Jakarta – The deployment of the Indonesian Military (TNI) platoons following a string of terror attacks in Poso, Central Sulawesi, is a contra-productive measure that could potentially incite social unrest, human right activists say.

Haris Azhar from the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) said on Thursday that the military personnel's presence might bring back the residents' memories of sectarian conflicts in the regency over a decade ago.

A joint team from the Central Sulawesi police and the Army has intensified combing operations around hamlets since Wednesday, in search of terrorists responsible for five bomb explosions, three bomb terrors, two shootings and murders in the recent weeks. The attacks killed two police officers and a resident, and also injured two policemen and two citizens.

"Based on what reason has the government involved the Army? We are afraid that it will not only stir up trauma among residents, but will also provide a loophole for the force to use excessive power, as it has happened before," he said during a press conference at Kontras headquarters in Jakarta.

Haris was referring to bloody police raids in Tanah Runtuh, Poso, between Jan. 11 and Jan. 22, 2007. Kontras found that police officers blatantly apprehended and assaulted 25 locals. As many as 15 civilians and two patrolling police officers were killed in the assaults.

Bonar Tigor Naipospos of the Setara Institute said that the deployment proved that the government had continued prioritizing repressive measures, which were once applied to end the bloody clashes between Christian and Muslim communities between 1997 and 2001.

"The government should use consolidative measures, by promoting dialogue between inter-religious figures and local leaders. This will ease the residents' fears," he added. (yps/iwa)