'Link between Poso violence, JI still unclear'
Jakarta Post, 21 June 2006

The level of violence in Poso and Palu has subsided since the government launched an operation in January to restore order to the Central Sulawesi towns. The mandate of the government task force, which is conducting law enforcement and intelligence operations, is scheduled to end July 4. The Jakarta Post correspondent Ruslan Sangadji interviewed operation commander Insp. Gen. Paulus Purwoko about what the task force has achieved, and what more is needed to bring lasting peace to the province.

Question: The Central Sulawesi security task force will soon end its mission. What has it achieved so far?

We had a clear vision and mission before taking up this duty. So the moment we started working, we were already focused on the job. We were able to resolve a number of cases which had long been neglected, such as the arrest of four members of a group believed to have committed a series of violent attacks in Poso and Palu. The members were Hasanuddin, Haris, Irwanto Irano and Rahmat, alias Jenda. They were arrested in Palu, Poso and Tolitoli and are now being detained at police headquarters in Jakarta.

Who are they and what did they do?

They claimed to be members of the Mujahidin group in Poso. They planned and perpetrated acts of violence and robberies in Poso and Palu, such as the shootings of Reverend Susianti Tinulele and prosecutor Ferry Silalahi, the attacks on the Anugerah and Imanuel churches in Palu, the theft of civil servants' pay at the Poso regent's office, the beheadings of the three Christian schoolgirls in Poso and the bombing of Tentena market.

Were they members of Dr. Azahari and Noordin M. Top's terror group Jamaah Islamiyah (JI)?

We have not yet found any indications of their involvement in the terrorist network. They also have not confessed to this. But one of them, Hasanuddin, admitted to having taken part in combat training in Mindanao in the southern Philippines. We believe he was the bombmaker and mastermind of the terrorist attacks.

What were the motives behind the violence?

First, to take revenge on Christians for the murder of Muslims in Sintuwu Lembah village, Buyung Katedo hamlet and several other places in Poso, and to warn Christians not to repeat such acts. Second, they were angry with the government and law enforcers for what they saw as their unfair treatment of Muslims in Poso. The other motive was their anger that the government had not realized one of the points in the Malino peace declaration, which was the restoration of Muslims' civil rights.

Were they involved in the year-end Maesa bombing in Palu?

We have yet to solve that case. The four suspects did not admit involvement in the incident. But the facts gathered from the bombing site indicate that some of the bomb materials used were similar to those used in the bomb that exploded in Tentena market in May last year, which was perpetrated by the four suspects.

What else has the task force achieved?

Besides restoring order, we were also assigned to resolve the graft case involving Poso humanitarian funds. We were able to name a number of officials and businessmen as suspects in the case. They are Central Sulawesi Social Welfare Office head Andi Azikin Suyuti, Ivan Sidjaya, Agus and Radja Dewa, who are now being detained in separate detention centers in Jakarta. We are still examining Central Sulawesi Governor Aminuddin Ponulele's alleged role in the misappropriation of Rp 1.2 billion (US$133,000) in transportation funds for Poso refugees.

Do you think the violence in Poso has subsided due to the presence of the task force?

I think that's very objective. If you look at the numbers, violence in Poso has obviously declined since we arrived. Just look at this (displaying a photocopy of the task force's areas of operation), during the period from October to December 2005 we recorded nine cases of violence in which 13 people were killed and 59 injured. From January to March this year, that figure fell to seven cases with one death and two injured.

And by the end of our term, from April to June, not a single incident of violence was recorded in Poso. During our term, we discovered and confiscated 33 homemade firearms, 199 rounds of live ammunition and 40 assembled bombs and grenades. We have achieved this due to the active participation of all parties in Poso.

Are there any tasks that remain unresolved?

There are two tasks that seem to be very hard for us to carry out: the acceleration of social integration and rehabilitation, which has yet to run smoothly during our mission in Central Sulawesi, especially in Poso.

Well, sorry to say, the frequent replacement of officials from Jakarta, such as from the Social Affairs Ministry and the Home Ministry, is among the obstacles. They don't stay in Poso, flying back to Jakarta every two weeks, which eventually leads to overlapping duties and a lack of understanding of the problems. Another problem is the delayed operational budget from the central government.

Can the current situation be sustained after your departure?

I'm very positive that the situation can be maintained. That's why I proposed to the governor not to ask for another extension of our term because the situation in Central Sulawesi is better than before.

What is your suggested solution for the problems in Poso?

The provincial administration should immediately form an integrated team to resolve matters related to civil rights, continue the communication and dialog with all parties in Poso, boost academic activities and the media campaign to raise people's awareness of peace.

Also, Poso residents should put aside personal and group interests, without being indifferent to other parties. They should be apologetic and forgive the grim incidents of the past. The most important thing is to resolve differences through dialog, not terror or violence.