Dense Forest Challenges MIT Group Hunt Task Force Leader Ali Kalora

Tinombala Task Force (DOK. ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Geographical conditions in the form of dense forests that are suspected of being the hiding place of the East Indonesia Mujahidin (MIT) group led by Ali Kalora, have become a challenge for the Tinombala Task Force to order a group of sadistic killers against a family in Sigi, Central Sulawesi.

The Task Force tries to comb this vast wilderness to find the perpetrators.

"Hopefully this natural geographical problem can be resolved soon," said Karo Penmas, Police Public Relations Division, Brigadier General Awi Setiyono, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, December 2.

The MIT group is suspected of being among the three districts in Central Sulawesi, namely Sigi, Poso, and Parigi Moutong or is inside the Lore Lindu National Park which stretches from Sigi to Poso.

"He went up and down the mountain," said Awi.

Based on the information of the arrested MIT members, if the group suddenly saw members of the Tinombala Task Force from a distance of 10 to 20 meters, they immediately took a prone position. This condition made it difficult for the Task Force to find them, especially in addition to the forest condition with dense trees.

In meeting their food needs, this group often goes to the village to ask for foodstuffs from local residents to survive.

"Going down to the village, terrorizing the community, asking for food and finally stealing or robbing with violence, including with murder. Then in the end take rice," said Awi.

As previously reported, on Friday, 27 November morning, a family of four in Lembantongoa Village, Palolo Subdistrict, Sigi Regency, Central Sulawesi was killed by a number of unknown persons suspected of being the East Indonesian Mujahidin group led by Ali Kalora.

The four victims killed by this group were Yasa as the head of the household, Pinu, Nata alias Papa Jana alias Naka and Pedi. Then they burned seven buildings, namely six residents' houses and one resident's house which was used as a service post for the Salvation Army Church.

"(The residents) who gave them (foodstuffs) were not persecuted. But yesterday there was resistance, so what happened (four residents died)," said Awi.