Stories Of Violence In Sigi, Murder, Burning Of Houses And Looting Of Foodstuffs

Illustration (Pixabay)

JAKARTA - A number of facts were revealed in the terror incident in Sigi, Central Sulawesi which was carried out by the East Indonesia Mujahidin (MIT) group led by Ali Kalora. Not only did they kill and burn houses, Ali and his members took a number of items from the residents' houses, including foodstuffs.

This murder incident took place on Friday, November 27 at around 09.00 WITA and reportedly reached the police at 13.00 WITA. This incident occurred in Lemban Tongoa Village, Palolo District, Sigi Regency, Central Sulawesi. From this incident, there were four victims who were declared dead by the police.

"The four victims were named Yasa, Pinu, Naka, and Pedi. These four people were Ulin's family who were witnesses to the reporting," said the Head of Public Relations of the Central Sulawesi Police, Kombes Didik Suparnoto when contacted by reporters, Saturday, November 28.

Based on the testimony of an eye witness, named Ulin, the MIT group led by Ali Kalora came to Ulin's house in Lemban Tongoa Village at around 09.00 WITA and entered the house through the back door. They took the Ulin family hostage who managed to escape.

Ulin's father, Yasa, and Ulin's husband, Pinu, were killed. Meanwhile, the cause of the deaths of Naka and Pedi is unknown. Meanwhile, Yasa's wife, Nei, survived but received a number of wounds on her body.

After carrying out the action, the perpetrators took 40 kilograms of rice and burned six houses around the murder site.

Later, information circulated that a church was burned down during this incident. This news has spread widely to the public via chain messages on the WhatsApp application since the incident occurred.

Central Sulawesi Police Chief Inspector General Abdul Rakhman Baso emphasized that no church building was burned or burned in the violence in Sigi Regency.

"I want to clarify that there are no churches there that were burned," said Baso, accompanied by Korem 132 / Tadulako Commander, TNI Brigadier General Farid Makruf, and Deputy Head of the Central Sulawesi Regional Police, Police Brigadier General Hery Santoso, at a press conference in Palu, Sunday, November 29.

Head of Central Sulawesi Regional Police, Inspector General of Police Abdul Rahkman Baso (Sulapto Sali / Antara)

According to him, the perpetrator did not burn the church but burned the house, which is usually used as a place for community service. Baso added, of the 9 houses, not only residents of one ethnicity and religion are inhabited, but there is a very good tolerance in that location.

"At the TKP location there are 50 local transmigration houses and nine of those houses will be occupied permanently if the others return," he said.

Baso added that this incident was carried out by 8 people who had been included in the wanted list (DPO). This assurance was obtained from the testimony of eyewitnesses who were at the location and saw the perpetrators of the terror.

"From the testimony of witnesses who saw the incident directly, which we confirmed with photos of the DPO MIT Poso, there are similarities," said Baso.

Chasing Ali Kalora's group

After this incident, the TNI and Polri Combat Operations Task Force (Satgas) moved to carry out reconnaissance and pursuit of the MIT group led by Ali Kalora. Commander of Korem 132 / Tadulako, Brigadier General TNI Farid Makruf said the TNI deployed chasing troops, intelligence, and territorial Task Force troops.

"Our task is to strengthen the Tinombala troops which are currently led by the Kapolda and I as their representatives and so far I think the TNI-Polri synergy is very effective, so that the MIT Poso group is pressed so that they feel threatened and take another route," said Farid.

He appealed to all parties and the public to work together so that the hunt for the armed civilian group MIT Poso could end immediately and the public could move in peace.

"I appealed to the public to stop helping them by preparing foodstuffs, preparing information on where the TNI-Polri troops were chasing them," he said.

"We want this MIT group to be resolved as soon as possible and we will pursue them maximally. Because Central Sulawesi seems to have a blemish just because of an MIT group movement that is actually nothing," he added.

Meanwhile in Jakarta, the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD received a report that the Tinombala Operations Task Force had carried out a number of steps to carry out chases and sieges at a location suspected of being a hiding place for the perpetrators.

"Earlier the Tinombala Team had conveyed the steps it took to pursue the perpetrators and carry out isolation and siege to places suspected of having links to the perpetrators," Mahfud said in a video statement uploaded to the YouTube account of the Coordinating Ministry for Politics, Law and Security.

Mahfud asked all groups of leaders of religious communities in Central Sulawesi to communicate with each other and conduct friendship. This needs to be done in order to prevent provocation by using the issue of SARA.

Moreover, information is circulating that this act of terror was carried out at the church. "Actually, what happened was not in a church but in a place that is routinely used as a place of service for the people," he explained.

"And the culprit is indeed MIT," he added.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

Police Public Relations Division Head Inspector General Argo Yuwono also asked residents to remain calm after the terror incident. Argo Yuwono invited the people around the incident to carry out their normal activities because the security forces were on guard.

"The community does not need to worry and remain calm because the TNI and Polri will join the patrol and will be together with the community, please carry out activities as usual.

"TNI and Polri will help and provide a sense of security there," he said.