SUARA PEMBARUAN DAILY
Terpidana Kasus Poso Meninggal

[PALU] Terpidana kasus kekerasan Poso, Sulawesi Tengah (Sulteng) Yusuf Asapa (35), Kamis (24/1) pagi, pukul 07.00 Wita, meninggal dunia di Lembaga Pemasyarakatan (LP) Kelas IIA Palu. Diduga meninggal karena penyakit tuberkulosis (TB) yang dideritanya.
Menurut rekan-rekannya di LP, pagi itu Yusuf ke kamar mandi dan terjatuh. Seorang rekannya yang melihat kejadian itu langsung menolong Yusuf dan membawanya ke poliklinik di LP tersebut.
Namun saat di poliklinik, Yusuf sudah tak sadarkan diri dan akhir- nya mengembuskan napas yang terakhir.
Oleh Tim Pembela Muslim (TPM) Poso, jena- zah Yusuf setelah disemayamkan di Rumah Sakit Umum Daerah Undata Palu, Kamis siang langsung dibawa ke Poso dan dike-bumikan hari itu juga di sana.
"Dari hasil pemeriksaan medis, Yusuf sudah lama menderita penyakit TB," ujar Harun Nyak Itam Abu, Ketua TPM Poso.
Tak Diautopsi
Dokter Kesehatan di Kepolisian Daerah (Polda) Sulteng , Kompol dr Haris mengatakan semula jenazah Yusuf akan diautop- si namun keluarganya menolak.
Yusuf divonis 9 tahun oleh Pengadilan Negeri Jakarta Selatan karena dinyatakan terbukti terlibat pembunuhan warga Poso, I Nyoman Sumaryasa pada 29 Mei 2001.
Yusuf juga didakwa terlibat pembunuhan Briptu Agus Sulaiman serta penembakan mantan Kapolres Poso, AKBP Rudy Sufariady. Sedikitnya ada 12 kasus kekerasan di Poso yang dituduhkan pada Yusuf terlibat di dalamnya.
Yusuf dikebumikan di pekuburan umum Lawanga Poso. Ribuan warga Poso menghadiri prosesi pemakaman Yusuf termasuk Kapolres Poso AKBP Adheni Muhan serta para pejabat teras lainnya di daerah ini. [128]
Last modified: 25/1/08

SUARA PEMBARUAN DAILY
Penyerobotan Hutan di Poso

[PALU] Sekitar 200 warga asal Sulawesi Selatan (Sulsel) saat ini secara tiba-tiba menyerobot masuk ke wilayah Kabupaten Poso, Sulawesi Tengah. Warga itu secara terang-terangan menebang kayu hutan dan membuka kebun serta membuat permukiman baru di kawasan hutan yang dimasuki tersebut. Ini menimbulkan keresahan warga di Poso dan sekitarnya yang belum sepenuhnya pulih dari konflik.
Ketua Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Daerah (DPRD) Poso, S Pelima yang dikomformasi SP Jumat (18/1) mengatakan, sesuai hasil penyelidikan sementara sekitar 200 warga itu berasal dari wilayah Sulsel, dipimpin seorang lelaki bernama Tungkanan.
Warga tersebut, tambahnya, menyerobot kawasan hutan di Gunung Meko, Kecamatan Pamona Barat, sekitar 100 kilometer (km) dari Kota Poso. Penyerobotan itu sudah berlangsung sejak bulan Desember dan belum ada upaya pengamanan dari Pemda maupun kepolisian setempat.
"Mereka membawa mesin gergaji kayu, kapak, parang, dan menebang hutan, serta membuka permukiman baru di kawasan hutan tersebut. Situasi ini menimbulkan keresahan masyarakat di Pamona Barat," katanya.
Belum diketahui apa motif penyerobotan warga Sulsel tersebut. Dugaan sementara ada upaya okupasi warga tersebut ke Poso. Nama Tungkanan sendiri, adalah nama seorang tokoh warga Poso.
Kurang Cepat
Dikatakan, Bupati Poso kurang cepat menangani kasus ini, padahal telah berdampak pada keresahan warga karena sudah berlangsung sejak sebulan lalu, sehingga demi mencegah berbagai kemungkinan yang akan terjadi lebih parah, Pelima akan bertemu Gubernur Sulteng, HB Paliudju meminta agar masalah ini diselesaikan.
"Saya sudah melaporkan hal ini ke Kapolda Sulteng agar segera dilakukan tindak pengamanan," katanya.
Kawasan Gunung Meko, tambahnya, merupakan salah satu daerah tangkapan air untuk wilayah Poso dan sekitarnya. Kawasan hutan di wilayah tersebut juga tengah diusulkan menjadi kawasan hutan lindung.
"Kalau hutan ini di- rusak, bisa terjadi banjir parah di Pamona Barat dan bisa merambah di da-erah-daerah lain di Poso," katanya.
Seperti diketahui situ-asi Poso saat ini relatif aman. Pemerintah Kabupaten Poso masih sibuk melakukan pemulihan kembali daerah itu, baik pemulihan keamanan, ekonomi, sosial, dan politik. [128]
Last modified: 19/1/08

C. Sulawesi nomads keep old customs alive
Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Poso, Central Sulawesi, January 08, 2008

Some of the women were dressed in clothes that left their shoulders bare. They wore basic make-up and brought baskets made from leaves.
Some women carried baskets full of their daily needs on their heads, some slung them across their shoulders, while others were carried by hand.
Some of the men were wearing socks, others used waistcoats made from tree bark; some were just wearing sarongs and head cloths. Others came bare-chested and walked along carrying spears, blowpipes and machetes.
Suddenly someone, probably a headman, walked forward followed by a woman. Both spoke in the local language -- a language very difficult for an outsider to understand.
Apparently both were reciting traditional poetry in a conversational style, in the local language -- an activity called Kayori.
This is but a snapshot of the To Wana society, the community that lives in the forests around Morowali Regency in Central Sulawesi.
Last month, this community, which is primarily made up of itinerant farm workers, took part in a theater performance representing their cultural rituals.
Their performance made up part of the 10th Lake Poso Festival.
While the principals were involved in Kayori, a group of people behind them accompanied recitations with traditional music using the talali or flute, the ngeso-ngeso, an instrument similar to a violin, and a due or popondo -- a single-string instrument with a front part that acts as a resonator.
There was also a tutubuaa percussion instrument made from bamboo, drums and gongs.
Amirullah Sia, the coordinator from Morowali Regency for the Poso Lake Festival, said he hoped the Kayori recital of traditional poetry and music would encourage more and more To Wana people to stage their cultural arts in Central Sulawesi and elsewhere in Indonesia.
After finishing Kayori, the To Wana people also performed the Dendelu dance. This is a movement performed in a circle and accompanied by poetry recited and sung by the dancers. This dance is performed to remember certain events, such as the commemoration of a death or to console a grieving family. This is why the movements of the dance are so slow.
They also performed the Salonde dance. This dance was carried out by women from the To Wana community, as an expression of their thanksgiving at harvest time and to welcome important guests who come to their region.
The To Wana people also staged the Tendebomba dance. This dance is more about general activities and can be performed on any occasion by men or women. In this dance other people are also invited to take part.
"A performance of the Tendebomba dance usually takes the whole night. That is why some people who follow that dance watch it till they fall asleep," said Amirullah Sia.
The To Wana people have a very rich traditional culture. Apart from their dances and songs, they also have a community play they call Wawinti.
This is about a calf race and can be performed only by men. This play is only performed as a pastime while waiting for rice crops to ripen.
This play was staged at the start of the season when the people plant rice -- and at the end when they harvest their crops.
One or two or more men can do Wawinti, or the contest with the calf. They take it in turns until there is a loser. Contestants will be judged the loser when they are kicked by an opponent who is playing the role of the calf.
If the contest is one man against two or more people, they will link their feet together in a way so they can kick out.
Apart from these activities there's another tradition belonging to the To Wana people -- shooting with a blowpipe. This is one of the activities that is important in the daily life of the To Wana. They use blowpipes to hunt birds, monkeys and pigs for consumption.
Blowpipes are very important for the To Wana people. They are not only used as a tool for hunting, but also as a lethal weapon for self-defense from attacks by wild animals and against those who threaten to destroy the lives of the people in the forest.
The blowpipe dart used by To Wana is made from sharpened bamboo. Later it is laced with impo, a special ingredient that is very poisonous.
So that whoever is struck by a blowpipe dart fired by the To Wana people definitely won't recover.
The To Wana people also have a treatment ceremony for the healing of sick people they call Momago or Mobolong.
This is the use of the invisible spirits of the natural things in the world, such as big trees, hills or springs.
In this ceremony the role of a paranormal, or Walia, is important as the mediator directing the strength of the invisible spirits to cure people who are sick.
Some offerings such as nuts from areca (a kind of palm), betel leaves, basil leaves and baru (a special To Wana drink) are also used as part of this ceremony.
"This ceremony is usually performed throughout the whole night. The musical instruments such as gongs and drums are a part of the procedures which are very important in this event," said Amin Abdullah, a To Wana researcher.
So before starting this ceremony the musical instruments have to be made ready. The instruments are played repeatedly, which is meant to invite an invisible spirit some believe can cure sick people through a paranormal mediator.
The rhythm of the gong and drum cease and the paranormal starts reading a magic formula to ask for the strength of the invisible spirit to help in this treatment ceremony. "This is called with the core treatment," Amin Abdullah said
The paranormal used a white cloth to detect someone's disease. The white cloth was put on top of the body of the person who is sick or was used to cover the body of the sick individual.
The paranormal moves the cloth, as if putting something into the body of the person who is sick, then makes it shake. At this moment the music stops.
Suddenly the gong and drum burst into their rhythm again accompanying the ritual activity of the treatment. This continues until the paranormal feels the treatment had been sufficient.
If the sick person cannot be cured and dies, the body will be wrapped in a white cloth or put in a coffin, but covered with tree bark representing the simplicity of To Wana society.
There are more demonstrations of distress when the body is buried; the family members who are left crying at the same time struggle to get free while scratching their bodies and roughing up their hair.
"This shows they are unable to be separated from their beloved family," Amin said.
Some 16 days after the funeral, the family then conducts the Momata ceremony to release their longing and to recount memories of the person who has passed away by the ritual destruction of the deceased's house.
The family side is ready with everything that is needed. They maintain their grief and wait for family members who didn't have the chance to attend the funeral ceremony.
Those who didn't have the opportunity to attend the funeral then express their remorse by crying, struggling to get loose and knocking down the house. Although some try to prevent it, the house is knocked down because it is considered to bring misfortune to the people.
After the house that belonged to the person who has passed away has been demolished, the family then moves again to another place to start a plantation and make a new place to live, and that goes on and on, which is why they are usually called nomadic or itinerant farm workers.

Kompas, Senin, 07 Januari 2008
Soal Pengungsi Poso Mesti Dituntaskan Secepatnya

Pamona, Kompas - Pengungsi merupakan persoalan berkepanjangan di wilayah bekas konflik, seperti Poso, Sulawesi Tengah. Menyediakan permukiman dan akses ekonomi menjadi jawaban agar persoalan pengungsi tidak berlarut menjadi "bara dalam sekam" untuk pemulihan wilayah bekas konflik itu.
Ketua Crisis Center Gereja Kristen Sulawesi Tengah Alex Patambo dan Direktur Wasantara Vincent Lumintang secara terpisah dalam perbincangan dengan Kompas, Sabtu (5/1) di Tentena, Pamona Utara, Poso, mengingatkan soal perlunya langkah cepat pemerintah menuntaskan masalah pengungsian itu.
Alex menyebutkan, banyak pengungsi Poso yang bersedia kembali ke kediaman asal sebelum konflik pecah. Namun, bukan hanya soal jaminan keamanan, ketersediaan rumah juga menjadi masalah.
Vincent menyatakan, mayoritas pengungsi meninggalkan pengungsian karena inisiatif pribadi. Sebagian yang memilih tak kembali pun bukan lagi karena kekhawatiran atas kondisi keamanan, melainkan lebih karena mereka mendapatkan pekerjaan atau berinvestasi di sekitar lokasi pengungsian.
Keduanya sependapat, persoalan pengungsi yang berlarut- larut kontraproduktif bagi upaya pemulihan Poso pascakonflik. Masalah pengungsi yang tak tuntas tertangani rawan menjadi sumber konflik baru. Bukan konflik antarkomunitas saja, pertikaian antara pengungsi dan penduduk lokal pun berisiko terjadi.
Vincent juga mengingatkan, jangan sampai soal pengungsi terus "terpelihara" tanpa penyelesaian tuntas dan menyeluruh, sementara dana bantuan yang terus dikucurkan pemerintah tak pernah terasa manfaat konkretnya buat pengungsi. Justru berlimpahnya dana bantuan rawan diselewengkan oleh birokrat.
Data akhir tahun yang disampaikan Bupati Poso Piet Inkiriwang menunjukkan, pengungsi sebagian besar kembali ke daerahnya. Jumlah pengungsi luar daerah atau dalam daerah menurun sejak tahun 2005. (dik)

Police: Central Sulawesi crime rates increasing
Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Palu, January 03, 2008

The crime rate in Central Sulawesi rose an average 9 percent, or to 7,895 cases in 2007 compared to the 7,250 cases in the previous year, a senior police official said in Palu on Wednesday.
Central Sulawesi Police Chief Brig. Gen. Badrodin Haiti told reporters the total number of crimes covered four categories; 7,623 cases related to conventional crime, 93 cases to transnational crime, 176 cases to crime against state wealth and three cases to contingent crime.
Badrodin said conventional crime was dominated by 1,710 cases of assault, from light to severe, followed by 1,657 cases of theft, 679 cases of fraud and 399 cases of extortion.
Psychotropic drug-related offenses were ranked top in the transnational crime category, with 77 cases, followed by 11 terror attack cases, three cases involving the possession of firearms and explosive materials and two drug-related cases. Terrorism cases dropped drastically in 2007 compared to the 45 cases the previous year.
Illegal logging ranked top with 156 cases in the crime against state wealth category, followed by 16 cases of corruption, three cases of money counterfeiting and one case of environmental destruction.
Contingent crime cases included conflicts involving tribal affiliations, religion, race and societal groups, military-police rivalry and an attack on a police station.
However, Badrodin said there was an increase in the number of solved crimes due to proactive law enforcement measures.
"More crimes were solved because police officers were proactive in carrying out their duties. I believe this was a good performance," he said.
However, he acknowledged his force was still slow in resolving cases, despite the rising trend each year. Of the 7,895 crimes in 2007, the police resolved 42 percent, or 3,512 cases.
Badrodin expressed hope terrorism cases in the province would drop this year, following the arrests of a number of perpetrators in Poso.
He said Poso residents were still easily provoked by certain issues, adding police personnel would be very careful in handling problems in Central Sulawesi, especially in Poso.
"In Poso, a traffic accident can spark a terror issue. I hope all parties will be able to work together to dispel the negative issues."

Central Sulawesi Police impose lenient measures
Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Palu, January 02, 2008

The Central Sulawesi Police Headquarters said on Tuesday it will tone down security measures in Poso considering the gradual improvement of conditions in the regency.
Central Sulawesi Police Chief Brig. Gen. Badrodin Hait launched an operation called Siwagilemba following the conclusion of the Lantodago operation in Poso on Dec. 31, 2007.
In his year-end report Badrodin said there were a number of basic differences in the implementation of the Siwagilemba and Lantodago operations in Poso.
He said the Siwagilemba operation would be coordinated by the Central Sulawesi Police, using funds from the provincial budget and involving at least 500 police personnel from the provincial police headquarters and Poso city police.
The now-completed Lantodago operation was coordinated by the National Police Headquarters, funded by the state budget and involved 1,200 personnel.
"They are two different things," Badrodin said.
"We focus more on persuasive measures by being involved in public awareness campaigns."
He said the security operation in Poso, where religious conflicts used to erupt and were usually followed by a series of violent terror acts, was crucial.
He said this was because there were still a number persons believed to be perpetrators of recent violent attacks in Poso. These people were on the police's wanted list and were still at large.
Badrodin said the suspects, identified by the initials M, Id, U, I and S, were believed to be still in Poso or overseas, including the Philippines.
A number of groups were believed to be carrying out clandestine activities to undermine the peace process in Poso and areas deemed risky following the arrest of Basri and his gang members, he said.
"We deemed Gebangrejo village as still risky and that security forces must continue to conduct small-scale security operations."
He said Poso still needed assistance to totally restore conditions, especially as the government was carrying out reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts after the conflicts.
Badrodin said former gang members of Basri's group must be reformed in order to stop them from carrying out destructive actions, "because they could turn into a hardline group and then be ready to engage in violence in Poso anytime".
Another pressing issue requiring police intervention, he said, was the return of people's civil rights.
"We deem that returning people's civil rights, in line with the Malino peace pact, that has yet to be implemented, would become a problem. "So, we deem the Siwagilemba operation as crucial," he asserted.
In Poso, New Year's Eve was a festive occasion. Nearly every subdistrict held parties to celebrate new year, including Poso Pesisir, where a traditional event was organized to see in the new year.
Fireworks displays were also held at the Maroso Square, Poso Port, Penghibur Beach, as well as in Tentena.
Poso Regent Piet Inkiriwang urged residents to unite in peace when celebrating the new year and to work together to turn Poso into a better place in 2008.
"We must unite and work hand-in-hand to develop Poso into a better place in the years ahead," Inkiriwang said.