Poso's beautiful past another victim of the conflict
Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Poso
13 Nov 2006

The strategically located Central Sulawesi regency of Poso, which spans 24,197 square kilometers and is inhabited by 132,032 people, used to be a magnificent area. It had a pristine landscape, hospitable people and a night life livelier than that in Palu, the province's capital.
It was a weekend resort magnet for Palu residents and a major tourist destination in Central Sulawesi. Some dubbed it the Nirvana of Central Sulawesi. The Poso Lake Festival, held every year, attracted thousands of local as well as foreign visitors.
But now the excitement, joy and grandeur of Poso in the past remains only as a memory.
"We were proud to mention Poso before, but there's nothing to be boastful about in Poso now," said Poso regency administration spokesman, Amir Kiat.
The city's theme used to be the word "citra" or image, with the individual letters standing separate qualities -- C was for ceria or radiance, I for indah or beauty, T for tertib or orderly, R for ramah or friendly and A for aman or peaceful. Now it is said that citra stands for cerita indah tentang rumah angus or "pleasant tales on burnt homes". Poso's beauty has been smeared by the hands of irresponsible and greedy people.
The city that was once visited by hordes of tourists is now only frequented by security personnel from the Indonesian Military and National Police.
Poso, which was once constantly enlivened with the dero social dance and melodious krambangan music at night, now rings with the sounds of sirens, bomb blasts, gun shots and tears.
The chain of riots since 1998 has changed Poso's image into that of a conflict zone, and, more sadly, it gave it the name of a terrorist den.
Residents believe that the latter title is just a political maneuver to gain power, projects and money.
"Poso residents are only used as cash cows by officials, or as scapegoats by the political elite," said a peace activist in Poso, Ariyanto Sangadji.
There have been no mass riots or frontal attacks between Christian and Muslim groups in Poso for the last two years.
"We're not the ones who wish for anarchy in Poso, but there are other people who we know of now. We don't want chaos any longer," said Ivon Nathalia, a victim of a shooting.
Muslims and Christians who were at loggerheads before have assimilated and live together in peace. Christians are free to visit the Muslim-dominated Poso city.
The demarcation lines that once separated the Christian enclave of Kawua in Poso Kota Selatan and the majority Muslim Sayo subdistrict are now gone.
But while residents are now not so easily riled by rumor, they are still involved in tensions with security personnel.
In Christian-dominated Taripa and Tentena, residents pelted and burnt a number of police facilities, including police stations, motorcycles and cars and a helicopter, which was nearly set on fire. The violence occurred in the wake of the controversial executions of Christians Fabianus Tibo, Marinus Riwu and Dominggus da Silva for their involvement in attacks on Muslims during the long-running conflict in the area.
In Poso city, a mob burned down a house rented by Brimob police paramilitary personnel and a church that functioned as a police command post.
Members of the police antiterrorist squad were beaten and their motorcycles burnt in another act of retaliation against the police, whom locals have accused of acting beyond the law.
Residents have said the police often made false arrests, were involved in a number of terror attacks in Poso and attacked the Amanah Islamic boarding school in Gebang Rejo subdistrict in Poso city.
Poso Center coordinator Soraya Sultan said the security issue was a crucial matter that needed to be addressed swiftly.
She said there were indications that security personnel helped create a situation in Poso that kept it gripped in fear.
"That's not the case in reality, however. The security personnel are the ones who intentionally created the situation," said Soraya, who is also active in advocating for the rights of women who are victims of sexual abuses by security personnel in Poso.
Poso is now reasonably peaceful, but residents still yearn for a return to its golden days.
"Return our paradise, and bring back peace to us. Don't bother us any more. We want our children and grandchildren to live calmly and peacefully," said Poso Vice Regent Abdul Muthalib.