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Resident murdered by radical group in Poso, say police
Poso resident M
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oso resident M. Fadli, 50, was killed in front of his house in Padalembara village, Poso Pesisir Selatan district, Central Sulawesi, on Thursday at around 10 p.m. local time, with a severe slash wound to his neck.
Poso Regency Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Susnadi confirmed the murder to The Jakarta Post, adding that based on eyewitness reports, five people wearing masks were involved in the murder.
'We have investigated the crime scene and heard from three eyewitnesses,' Susnadi said over the phone on Friday.
Based on preliminary investigations, he said the perpetrators were believed to be members of a radical group in Poso that has been spreading terror in the regency.
The group has allegedly set up its base camp in Poso Pesisir Selatan district, where several incidents have occurred.
The victim's wife, Syahini, 40, said her husband was sitting in front of the house when he was suddenly approached by five men in military fatigues and masks.
The men, carrying rifles and machetes, immediately slashed her husband's neck, she added.
'I was scared and didn't dare to scream. Only after the incident, when the perpetrators left, did I cry for help,' said Syahini over the phone.
Moments later, police arrived on the scene and brought the victim to Poso Regional Hospital in Poso city for an autopsy.
The victim was then brought home to Padalembara village for burial on the same day.
Information received by the Post indicated the victim was killed because he was believed to be working as a spy for the police in Poso and was being monitored by the perpetrators.
However, Susnadi denied this.
'The police have never recruited residents to be informants,' said Susnadi, adding the victim was a farmer by profession.
- Farmer's throat slashed by unidentified group of five masked men
- Police deny victim was working for them as informant
- Perpetrators believed to hail from Poso terrorist group
- Police draw up list of most wanted people
He said the police had always urged residents in Poso to help them by reporting any suspicious activity in their neighborhoods.
The police have drawn up a list of the 24 most dangerous people in the area and have distributed their photos across Poso.
The individuals are Santoso, Mamat, Alian San, Hendro, Taufik Buraga, Herman, Fadlun, Faris, Anto, Sugiatno, Can, Ambo Intan, Ali Sannang, Imron, Azis, Sugir, Busro, Maskoro, Joko, Samil, Bogar, Hadit, Salahudin and Ambo.
Most of the fugitives use several aliases to conceal their identities.
Of the 24, Maskoro surrendered to police, while Taufik Buraga alias Upik Lawanga, was killed in a raid in Bima, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), last year.
The wanted men are strongly believed to have joined Santoso's group and to have taken part in combat training in Gunung Biru, Poso Pesisir district.
Poso was home to sectarian conflict from 1998 to 2000. More than 2,000 people were either killed or went missing in the conflict.
In 2001, the government reached a peace accord called the Malino Declaration.
Communal conflicts involving the Muslim and Christian communities have not occurred in the area since that declaration.
However, new radical groups have emerged, such as Jamaah Islamiyah, led by Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, and Jamaah Ansharut Tauhid (JAT).
JAT once established its base in Gunung Biru, Tamanjeka hamlet, Poso Pesisir, where it built a pesantren (Islamic boarding school) called Darul Ansharut Tauhid.
However, the police were able to drive the group out.
