Hundreds of Security Staff Withdrawn From Poso
Tuesday, 04 April, 2006 | 14:35 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Palu: Following the improving situation of the Poso Regency, Central Sulawesi, yesterday hundreds of security staff from the police under operational control (BKO) were withdrawn and returned to their units.

The men who pulled out were comprised of 200 from the Indonesian Police Headquarters and 100 of the North Sulawesi Regional Police Mobile Brigade.

They have ended their terms of service for six months in the area which was conflicted by ethnic, religious, racial and intergroup relations (SARA).

According to the Sub-regional Police Head, Adj. High Police Comr. Rudy Sufahriyadi, the vacating of the troops was not only due to the Poso situation, which is encouraging, but also due to the end of the terms of service. Moreover, the status of the Poso Sub-regional Police has changed to Special Sub-regional Police, so that they expect thousands of recruits to enroll.

The Sub-regional Police Chief said the Poso Special Sub-regional Police needs 2,000 recruits who will be prepared to maintain Poso security. >From that number, 351 have arrived in Poso, and the rest will follow in phases. “We will bring them in phases according to the improvement in the situation,” said the Sub-regional Police Chief.

Up to now, not less than 3,500 staff of the Indonesian Military and Indonesian Police are on alert in Poso. They are stationed at 108 security posts along the roads in Poso.

Darlis