IO – The government, through the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD, said that it strongly condemns the murder of a family in Sigi, Central Sulawesi, by Mujahidin Indonesia Timur (MIT) terrorists led by Ali Kejora. Mahfud explained that the government had prepared a strategy to catch the perpetrators of the killings in Sigi. The Tinombala Task Force Team will encircle the places suspected of hiding the perpetrators. The government has also taken steps to catch up. “The government will take firm action and chase down the perpetrators through the Tinombala Operations Team or Task Force against the perpetrators of atrocities and cruelty towards a family that led to the killing of four people in Sigi. Of course, the government strongly condemns the perpetrators and expresses deep condolences to the victims and their families,” said Mahfud in a written press statement, Monday (30/11).
According to Mahfud, the government has met the victims’ families. Mahfud said the government had asked the authorities to strengthen security in Sigi. Also, tighten the guarding of citizens from terrorist threats and those who want to disrupt security and order in the area. Mahfud emphasized that the Government guarantees the safety of all citizens throughout Indonesia. “The government guarantees the safety of citizens in all regions of Indonesia, including residents in Sigi Regency, especially after acts of terror in that area,” he said.
After the attack on the residents of Lembantongoa Village, Sigi, hundreds of families fled because of fear. The head of Lembantongoa Village, Deki Basalulu, as many as 150 families in Lewono Hamlet chose to flee after the killing of four residents by a group suspected of being MIT members on Friday (27/11/2020). Residents are still afraid of being in the hamlet which is about 16 kilometers from the road connecting Palolo with Napu, let alone returning to their daily activities of farming. “The residents chose to flee to Tokelemo Hamlet, four kilometers from the location of the incident; the majority of them were farmers,” said Head of Lembantongoa Village, Deki Basalulu.
Deki said the displaced residents currently need logistical assistance to survive as long as farming is not yet possible. For these emergency conditions, the Lembantongoa Village took the initiative to distribute rice aid to the refugees. The location of the murder of the residents of Lewono Hamlet was relatively remote. Apart from having to climb the hills, cellular communication is impossible from that location. In the vicinity of that location, there are also cultivated lands which are the source of life for residents. “We are still looking for solutions for residents who have fled. For emergency conditions, we take a stand to distribute 1 liter of rice to each refugee,” he said.
It’s heartbreaking
New facts were revealed in the sadistic murder of a family in Sigi, Central Sulawesi, which was committed by the Ali Kelora group, not only killing one family, Ali Kalora and his group also burned several houses and took people’s belongings. The murder occurred on Friday (27/11) at around 10:00 a.m. in Lembatongoa Village, Palolo District, Sigi Regency, Central Sulawesi. The four family members were found dead around their house.
Central Sulawesi Police Chief Inspector General Abd Rakhman Baso said the sadistic killing was done by the MIT group led by Ali Kalora and the MIT members on a random terror act. According to him, the action was carried out to frighten the public. “So they were moving in a crowd. (MIT’s relationship with the families of the dead) did not exist, so they sometimes like to act randomly. They are called terrorists because they carry out acts of terror to frighten the public,” he said.
The police confirmed that the perpetrator of the sadistic murder of a family in Sigi, Southeast Sulawesi, was led by the Ali Kalora Cs group of 8 people. “The MIT group took food stocks in the form of rice and spices belonging to residents and then burned six houses,” said the Head of Central Sulawesi Regional Police, Inspector General Abd Rakhman Baso during a press conference at the Central Sulawesi Police Headquarters meeting on Sunday (29/11) morning.
No church burned
The murder of a family in Sigi Regency, Central Sulawesi, which was committed by Ali Kalora, was said to have been accompanied by the burning of houses and churches in the vicinity of the incident. The police clarified the information. Rakhman Baso confirmed that the incident was murder. However, he stressed that no church building was burned in the incident. “Yes, it is true that there are reports of incidents circulating on Facebook. It just needs to be clarified that among those that burned down were no churches,” he said.
According to him, the object of arson by a group of unknown people was only the house which was used as a place of worship for the people. He again emphasized that what was burned was not a church building. “This information must be straightened out because it has been circulating on the social media FB (Facebook). Do not spread false info on ethnicities and religious issues,” he said.
Head of Police Public Relations Division, Inspector General Prabowo Argo Yuwono, invited the people to continue their activities as usual. Argo said the Armed Forces and the Police would be present to provide security. “Please carry out your activities as usual. The Armed Forces and the Police will help and provide a sense of security there,” said Argo. (dan)