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Tambing Lake reopens as counterterrorism operation moved back to Poso Pesisir Bersaudara
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The beauty of nature – This picture shows the beauty of Tambing Lake in North Lore district. The lake reopened to the public following the shifting of the Operation Tinombala Task Force to Poso Pesisir Bersaudara from the Lore Bersaudara area.
(thejakartapost.com/Ruslan Sangadji)
T
he joint police-military operation to pursue members of the East Indonesia Mujahidin (MIT) terror group led by Santoso, aka Abu Wardah, has been moved from Lembah Napu in Lore Bersaudara area in Poso regency, Central Sulawesi, back to the Poso Pesisir Bersaudara area.
The Lore Bersaudara area covers four districts, namely North Lore, South Lore, East Lore and Lore Peore. Meanwhile, Poso Pesisir Bersaudara encompasses three districts, namely Poso Pesisir, South Poso and North Poso Pesisir, as well as its surrounding areas.
The joint force, which previously established a security camp in the Tambing Lake tourism area, North Lore district, has left the area and moved to the Poso Pesisir Bersaudara area. All road access to and from the area is now tightly monitored by Indonesian Military and National Police personnel who are part of the Operation Tinombala Task Force.
Operation Tinombala Task Force spokesperson Adj. Sr. Comr.Hari Suprapto said the relocation was conducted following the arrest of two Santoso group members, namely Muhammad Sulaeman alias Sul alias Ifan, alias Faqih, 19, from Madura, East Java, and Ibadurrohman, alias Ibad, alias Amru, 21, from Bima, West Nusa Tenggara, in Kampung Baru, Padalembara village, South Poso Pesisir, on April 15.
Hari said the task force had stepped up searches and intelligence operations to prevent MIT members who had been separated from the group from entering residential areas.
“We continue to stay alert. We are processing any information we receive as thoroughly as possible. Yet, there is the possibility that terror group members could still evade arrest,” said Hari.
Separately, Lore Lindu National Park head Sudayatna said that as the Operation Tinombala force shifted from the Tambing Lake area to Poso Pesisir Bersaudara, the natural tourism destination in Sedoa village, North Lore district, had been reopened for the public.
“It was closed for more than one month. But it has been open for tourists again for several days,” Sudayatna told thejakartapost.com recently.
Anni Mustakim, 35, a Palu resident, said she and several friends had just returned from the Tambing Lake but planned to go on vacation there again. During weekends, many tourists, including some foreigners, visit the area.
In 2015, around 6,000 domestic and foreign tourists visited Tambing Lake. The tourist attraction is only around two hour’s drive away from Palu, the province’s capital.
Many domestic and foreign tourists are drawn to Tambing Lake because of its unique ecosystem, which is a “paradise” for various bird species.
The Lore Lindu National Park records Tambing Lake is home to more than 260 bird species, 30 percent of which are endemic to the region.
“This is why Tambing Lake is very unique, attracting bird lovers and researchers to the tourist destination,” said Sudayatna.
Orchids and gum trees, two endemic trees of Central Sulwesi, are other unique aspects of the Tambing Lake. Visitors are allowed to camp and go fishing in designated locations around the lake. (ebf)
