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U.S.
diplomats visit Palu
PALU, Central Sulawesi: Senior American diplomats Phillip
L. Antweiler and Mara A. Kaplan visited the Central Sulawesi
police headquarters on Friday and discussed security issues
with top police officers in the province.
In the meeting, the diplomats queried Brig. Gen. Aryanto
Sutadi, the chief of the provincial police, on the current
security situation in the province, particularly in the
religious violence-prone area of Poso regency. They also
asked about potential conflicts ahead of the direct elections
for the leaders of regional governments in the province
this year.
Sectarian conflict broke out in the religiously divided
regency of Poso in 2000, claiming an estimated 2,000 lives.
The conflict spread to other cities in the province, including
its capital Palu. The conflict died down after a government-sponsored
pact in 2002, but sporadic attacks and bombings still occur,
sparking concern among many, including foreigners. M (JP/IM)
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