Residents say a divided Poso could be a more peaceful place
Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Poso, 22 Feb 2007

Frustrated by slow progress toward peace, some Poso residents are now urging the government to divide the conflict-torn Central Sulawesi regency into two parts.
The request was delivered Saturday in a joint declaration at Baruga Torulembah, the home of Poso Regent Piet Inkiriwang. It called on the government to split the regency into a Poso regency, with Tentena as its capital, and a Poso mayoralty, with Poso city as its center.
Erawanto Timumun, a supporter of the declaration, told The Jakarta Post on Sunday that the separation would be a crucial step toward resolving the conflict in Poso.
"There have been many attempts to end the Poso conflict, from the Malino agreement to local meetings in kampongs. But until now, there have been no fruitful results, and it's about time to resort to the last alternative, dividing the town," said Erawanto.
The 2001 Malino Declaration, signed by both Christians and Muslims, declared the willingness of both sides to work together and stop the fighting.
The demand to split the regency, Erawanto said, came from a majority of residents in Poso Kota and Poso Pesisir districts.
Poso was rocked by sectarian conflicts in 2000-2001, leaving some 1,000 people dead. Peace returned with the Malino signing, but acts of terrorism have continued.
The Poso regency and Central Sulawesi administrations have voiced support for the plan.
Poso Regent Piet Inkiriwang told the Post that he had hosted the announcement of the declaration at his house as a sign of approval.
"I also assigned several officials to attend the declaration. This is a show of the administration's support," he said.
He said according to the plan, Poso mayoralty would comprise Poso Kota, Poso Pesisir Selatan, Lage, Poso Pesisir and Poso Pesisir Utara districts. Poso Kota and Poso Pesisir Utara have around 70 percent Muslim residents each, while the three other districts have more than 20 percent Muslim residents.
Meanwhile, Poso regency will cover seven predominantly Christian districts -- Pamona Utara, Pamona Timur, Pamona Selatan, Pamona Barat, Lore Utara, Lore Tengah, Lore Selatan.
Central Sulawesi Governor Bandjela Paliudju said on Monday that his administration would fully support residents' aspirations, including dividing the regency, in an effort to solve the conflict and ensure lasting peace in the area.
However, he said the move to divide the regency would not be easy and would involve a long process. The demand has to be discussed within the regency and the province as well as in the central government, he added.
"There's a need to conduct political meetings at the House of Representatives and the Home Affairs Ministry. So they must be patient," he said.
Lawmaker M. Ichsan Loulembah welcomed the idea, saying he had proposed a similar solution if all other efforts to end the conflict failed.
He said there must be a formal segregation of administration and governance in Poso.
That would only be possible, he said, by dividing Poso regency in two.
Of the regency's 200,000 residents, 70 percent are Christian and 30 percent Muslim. It is a reality, he said, that Tentena is predominantly Christian while Poso is dominated by Muslims.
If the plan goes as ahead, it will be the second time for Poso. In 1999, two new regencies, Morowali and Tojo Una-Una, were split off from Poso regency.