Residents in Tentena protest over Lake Poso festival
Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Poso, December 11, 2007

Residents in Tentena, Poso, Central Sulawesi, have voiced their protest against Poso Lake Festival organizers for not including them properly in the event.
They said the five-day festival was unlike the last Poso Lake Festival in 1997 when Tentena and Poso residents were involved actively in its running and were ensured a sense of ownership.
The event has been on hold since 1997 after violent religious conflicts in the area that saw hundreds killed.
Tentena cultural observer Yustinus Hoke, 60, is also leader of the Central Sulawesi Protestant Church (GKST) committee and said the festival this time was not as "auspicious compared to previous years".
He said this was because Tentena residents were not involved in the organizing committee.
"We have the experience to organize the festival, because we were directly involved as organizing committee members from year to year previously," Yustinus told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.
He said it was also one of the reasons the festival appeared to have lost its personality this year, because it focussed more on showcasing traditional performances, without including tourism and the Pamona cultural heritage.
The locals said the festival this year failed to include tourist attractions which should have been the epicenter of the event for visitors and cultural guests.
Rev. Hengky Bawias, 32, said the festival had not previously been held in December, but between June and August, to coincide with the holiday season in Europe.
Hengky said the festival had in years past teemed with European tourists. "But now, since it was held in December in Tentena, at a time when Christian residents are busy preparing themselves for Christmas ... it turned out to be dull".
"The mood was lively only during the night (this time).
"Irrespective of the positive or negative response from residents who are deprived of entertainment following the strife in Poso, the festival this year (also) lost its true meaning," he said.
Poso regency administration spokesman Amir Kiat confirmed the Central Sulawesi Tourism and Cultural Office had not involved the Poso regency administration in the organizing committee.
"The provincial administration has taken over everything," Amir said.
"So, if you want to ask about its technical aspects, I'm sorry, I cannot explain."
Organizing committee head Jethan Towakit left Tentena immediately after the opening ceremony. He said he was accompanying the director general of tourism and culture back to Palu and would return Sunday.