Jakarta – One battalion of troops is being sent to help the police maintain law and order in the Central Sulawesi town of Poso following a series of incidents that it is feared could reignite sectarian conflict in the area.
The reinforcement troops arrived in Poso shortly after a homemade bomb was found in front of the home of a local community figure on Thursday as Muslims celebrated the first day of the Idul Fitri holiday.
Military (TNI) spokesman Maj. Gen. Kohirin Suganda said the battalion was attached to the Makassar-based Wirabuana Military Command, which is responsible for military affairs in Sulawesi. Another battalion has been stationed in Poso ever since the government launched an operation code-named Sintuwu Marosos to restore law and order code in the area in 2002.
"We (the TNI) are intensifying our security efforts in Poso to prevent the town from becoming the scene of further disturbances. The locally recruited troops from the Wirabuana Military Command have been joined by about one thousand reinforcement troops," Kohirin told Antara on Saturday.
He dismissed reports that TNI headquarters would deploy more troops from outside Sulawesi, saying the number of troops in the areas was now enough.
According to official figures, as of October there were at least 3,500 military and police personnel deployed in Poso, which intelligence authorities have identified as a "terrorist hotbed".
Over 1,000 people were killed in a bloody sectarian conflict between Muslims and Christians in Poso between 2000 and 2001. Peace, which was officially declared in December 2001, has been put to the test again following the beheading of three Christian high school girls on Oct. 29. No one has been arrested or named a suspect in connection with the triple murder.
Tension increased on Thursday after a low explosive bomb was discovered in front of the house of Gustaf Tajongga, the head of Lambogia subdistrict. The police bomb squad safely defused the bomb. Sporadic attacks have been occurring since a formal peace agreement was inked in late 2001. Religious leaders and politicians have blamed poor law enforcement for the endless cycle of violence in the area.
People in Poso were not showing fear, however, despite the latest incidents. In Bega and Tagolu subdistricts, Christians visited their Muslim neighbors to greet them for the Idul Fitri holiday.
"There is nothing to worry about in Poso. People are going about their work and social activities without fear, even at night," Deputy Regent Abdul Muthalib Rimi said.
He expressed regret that the media had portrayed the security situation in the area as being volatile. "The assessment of outsiders is not objective and has created new problems for the people and government of Poso," Rimi said.
Despite the series of violent incidents over the past six months, government and social activities had not been disrupted, he added.
"The incidents were sporadic. Although they may hurt us, they cannot rent us asunder thanks to the leading roles played by local government officials and figures who have actively calmed the people down," said Rimi.
The people of Poso had never overreacted to the incidents, but had consistently encouraged the subjecting of the perpetrators to the full rigors of the law.