C Sulawesi people remain unprovoked: nat'l police chief
October 18, 2006, Jakarta (ANTARA News)

National Police Chief Gen Sutanto said people in religiously-divided Central Sulawesi province have remained uprovoked by Monday`s shooting of a Christian minister, Reverend Irianto Kongkali who was secretary general of the South Sulawesi Christian Church in Palu."We are thankful that people there have remained unprovoked by the incident," Sutanto told reporters after attending a ceremony marking the transfer of duties of the position of National Police Chief Deputy for Human Resources Development from Insp Gen Baasyir Ahmad Barmawi to Insp Gen Bambang Hadiono at the National Police Headquarters here on Wednesday.The National Police Chief called on the people to remain calm after the shooting of the Christian community figure in Palu. "We have to maintain this harmonious situation. Do not be easily provoked by irresponsible parties who want to reignite the Poso conflict," Sutanto said.Irianto`s slaying was another instance on the long list of acts of violence with the use of fire arms that occurred in the period following the conclusion of a peace pact between the two rival groups involved in a prolonged sectarian conflict in Central Sulawesi.In 2003, a church activist ,R Tadjoja, and a public prosecutor, Ferry Silalahi, were shot dead by unidentifed gunmen while Rev Susianti Lusiana Tinulele was killed on July 18, 2004 when she was preaching at Effatha Church in Palu.None of the cases has so far been solved.At 8:15 a.m. on Monday, two unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle shot dead Rev Irianto Kongkoli, which led to fears of an escalation in communal violence in Palu.The minister was gunned down as he, his wife and his four-year old daughter Gea, were shopping for ceramic tiles at Sinar Sakti construction materials shop on Jalan Mongonsidi. According to Sutanto, the shooting was intended to stir up the sentiments of the two different groups in Central Sulawesi that were locked in the past communal conflict which had claimed thousands of lives."This incident is proof that there are certain parties who want to disturb the already-conducive situation in Poso. Therefore, let`s not be easily provoked," said Sutanto who formerly held the positions of North Sumatra and East Java police chief.(*)
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