Stop violence in Poso, MPR chairman says
October 3, 2006

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Chairman of the People`s Consultative Assemby (MPR) Hidayat Nurwahid said violence and acts of terrorism in Poso should be stopped.Speaking to reporters at the MPR building here on Tuesday, Nurwahid said the vicious circle of terrorism in the form of bombingss in Poso, Central Sulawesi, should be halted because otherwise more innocent people would fall victim to it.He said that after the executing of Tibo and friends, there were parties that tried to capitalize on the event by creating unrest. "This is a reason for concern," Nurwahid added.Efforts to solve various conflicts in Poso should be made by law enforcers and the people, Nurwahid said but he also remidned the enforcers not to be trapped by stigmatization such as slander and efforts to find a scapegoat.He said people should also be aware and refuse to be pitted against each other with provocations that could lead to permanent conflicts.On the occasion, House of Representatives Commission I member Boy W Saul of the Democrats Party said there were indications that the violence in Poso was triggered by economic and political factors.The conclusion was drawn during a hearing with Commission I, which deals with security affairs, and the State Intelligence Agency.
Three bomb explosions rocked Poso, Central Sulawesi, in the wee horus of Sunday just before Muslims had their pre-dawn meals (Sahur).Central Sulawesi Police spokesman Adjunct Senior Commissioner M Kilat said the explosions came from home-made bombs and claimed no life.He said the security situation in Poso district was under control following an incident in which a police station in the Taripa area was vandlaized on Friday (Sept 29).On September 22, death row convicts Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus da Silva and Marianus Riwu, blamed for inciting deadly violence in the Central Sulawesi town of Poso, where about 200 people were killed in 2001, were executed by a firing squad.Following the execution, sympathizers of the trio went amuck in Maumera vadalizing police posts and breaking down a jail in Atambua and provoked inmates to flee. (*)
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