Jakarta – Weapons smuggling to the Poso region in Central Sulawesi is a well orchestrated operation linked to the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) according to Andi Matalatta, a member of the Golkar faction of the Peoples' Consultative Assembly. He has urged the government to take serious and immediate action to overcome the violence between Christians and Muslims in the area, lest the situation degenerate further.

Andi Matalatta spoke with Detikworld at the Assembly Building today, Friday, 9/6/2000. He also said the operation had long been known and that it was highly unlikely that it was carried out by independent parties. He claimed the smuggling could be traced to the Armed Forces and that the weapons came from North Maluku before being moved onto South Palopo and Poso.

"First, [check] whether weapons ownership in the Armed Forces and weapons factories are being effectively monitored and are under control," he said. He strongly suggested this matter be tracked immediately and stated that the process would be greatly facilitated by the capture of some of those involved.

"In this case we shoud encourage the House to prompt the army and officers to immediately investigate this illegal use of weapons," reiterated Andi.

Commenting on the perpetual riots in Poso recently, Andi said the main probelm was the multi-ethnic nature of the conflicting groups. He regrets the insufficient attention given to the crisis in Poso, including the inadequate aid (for the refugees) considering that the tragedy in Poso is similar to that which has torn the neighbouring islands of the Maluku archipelago apart in recent months. The capital of Maluku province is Ambon where violence in the past year has claimed more than 2,500 lives. Andy said he has reported the crisis in Poso in the Plenary Meeting of the House. "We urged the government to take immediate and serious action on this case," he said.