C

entral Sulawesi Police chief Brig. Gen. Dewa Parsana acknowledged that his force currently lacked operational funds to restore security in the province, despite security threats in Sigi regency and Poso city, and measures needed for the Morowali regency repeat election.

“Despite the shortfall in operational funds, the security recovery operation must continue to ensure people’s sense of security,” Parsana told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

He said his force had received contingency funds for the 2013 security restoration operation amounting
Rp 2 billion (US$220,000) but Rp 1.75 billion had already been spent.

Parsana added that Rp 925 million out of the contingency fund had been used for the security restoration operation in Poso in 2013,
Rp 400 million in Sigi regency and Rp 430 million in Morowali regency.

The second phase of the security operation in Poso, involving more than 1,000 police and Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel, would need require Rp 1.38 billion.

“This means we face a deficit of around Rp 1.1 billion,” Parsana said.

He went on to say that the Security Restoration Special Task Force (Satgassus) had to continue its work in Sigir regency after having being deployed for only two months. Satgassus has largely been successful in overcoming the widespread intervillage clashes that took place over the past few months.

The speaker of the Sigi Legislative Council, Budi Luhur Larengi, said Satgassus’ presence had at least been able to suppress communal clashes in Sigi. He requested Satgassus to remain on duty until a peaceful condition had been reached.

Budi said the council would suggest the Sigi regent to allocate funds for Satgassus’ security operation in the regency. “The regency council is authorized to propose such funding.”

Budi added the budget allocation was not against the law because it was regulated by Presidential Instruction No. 2/2013 on the handling of internal security disturbances. The police can now use regional administrations‘ budgets on the basis of promoting unity and synergy in maintaining security.

Parsana did not mention specifically the budget needed in Sigi but only said it could reach hundreds of million rupiah because it might require 140 members, including TNI personnel.

The police, said Parsana, would not provide allowances for its officers during the operations.