|
|
POSO - Residents of the troubled Muslim town of Poso, in Central Sulawesi province, have expressed concern over allegations that jihadist paramilitary troops have left Java and are due in Poso, where another police raid led to the arrest of two suspected terrorists on Thursday. The latest raid followed two more in January that left 17 Islamic militants dead. Levi Bagu, resident of the Kapompa Village, Labuan, Poso, is worried that the arrival of militants could unsettle Poso even more. "I just want to live in peace," Bagu told Adnkronos International (AKI).
Sectarian violence has continued to erupt in Central Sulawesi, the battlefield for bloody 1999-2001 warfare between Christians and Muslim militias that left 1,000 dead. In the last 24 hours, news reports have indicated that members of the officially disbanded Laskar Jihad militia have left the East Javanese city of Surabaya and are on their way to Poso.
In a previous interview with AKI, Laskar Jihad chief, Jaafar Umar Thalib, denied the allegation. “It is all a lie, maybe it is someone else using our name,” he said. Adnan Arsal, one of Poso’s most influential Islamic leaders and the chairman of the Silahturrahim Forum and the Struggle for Poso Muslims, denied the news report. He also said that the Poso conflict was not connected with Al-Qaeda or Jemaah Islamiyah, as claimed by Indonesia-based experts in terrorism.
"All that is simply untrue. I really do not know where the existence of Jemaah Islamiyah in Poso is,” he said. Arsal’s son in law, Hasanuddin, is currently on trial in Jakarta for a string of vicious crimes, including the beheading of three Christian schoolgirls. Hasanuddin, who gained military training in the Philippines island of Mindanao, is considered the leader of Poso’s JI cell.
Also worried for the alleged arrival of the jihadi is Rev Rinaldy Damanik, Chairman of the Christian Central Sulawesi Council of the Church Synod, who stressed with AdnKronos International that the police must stop them. "I am worried that large scale violence may break out again. But I think this is the police's responsibility,” Rev Damanik told AKI. In the meantime, local police officials have played down the allegation while however tightening the entry points to the town.
“This matter is only a rumor,” spokesperson of Central Sulawesi Regional Police, Muhammad Kilat, said. “However we stay alert. Whether there is or not a real possibility of any jihadi arriving in Poso, we will keep a close check at several entry points,” he added. It is understood that extra troops have been deployed at Palu airport, the Pantoloan Seaport and at several other entry points. Extra security has also been extended in several ports in South Sulawesi, where it is believed the jihadi should moor.
|
|
|
|
|
|
There are no reactions on this blog entry yet. Be the first one to give a reaction here!
|
|
Log in to write a reaction
|
You are not logged in to the website. You have to be logged in to write a reaction on this blog entry.
· If you already have an account, please login.
· If you have lost your password, please retrieve it.
· If you don't have an account yet, you can create one.
|
|
|
| ABOUT THIS ENTRY |
Add this blog entry to your email, your own blog, MySpace, Facebook, or whatsoever via AddThis:
|
Login if you want to receive emails for reactions on this blog entry. You will receive an update as soon as a reaction on this blog entry is posted.
|
|
Looking for e-tickets for flights in Indonesia? Here's your solution! Order your e-tickets at ticketindonesia.info.
|
| BLOG ARCHIVE |
· 2010, 150 entries
· 2009, 916 entries
· 2008, 504 entries
· 2007, 725 entries
· 2006, 1014 entries
· 2005, 723 entries
· 2004, 558 entries
· 2003, 525 entries
· 2002, 375 entries
· 2001, 162 entries
|
| POPULAR TAGS |
Automatically generated every hour
|
| EXCHANGE RATES |
@ 11 Mar 2010 18:35 CET
|
@ 11 Mar 2010 17:36 CET
|
@ 11 Mar 2010 18:36 CET
|
@ 11 Mar 2010 17:53 CET
|
@ 11 Mar 2010 18:12 CET
|
|
| Go to 'exchange rates' |
|
