Palu, Central Sulawesi (Antara Bali) - The chief of the Central Sulawesi Police Command, Brigadier General Idham Azis, has ordered his personnel to increase security at churches in the province here on Sunday.
He made the call following a failed attempt to burn a security post at a church on Jalan Sulawesi early on Sunday morning, the command spokesman, Adjunct Senior Commissioner Hari Suprapto, said to Antara when asked to confirm about the incident.
He said the regional police chief has also called on churches in the region to also increase their own security.
Suprapto said that personnel involved in the current Ketupat Operation to secure Eid festivities had also been ordered to increase patrols and guards at houses of prayer including churches.
He said the Central Sulawesi Police Command has a special company ready to be deployed in case of an emergency to assure security and order in the province.
"Situation in the province remains conducive until now. People are urged not to be provoked by the incident on Jalan Sulawesi," he said.
He said the police had called on all parties to report to security authorities in case they saw indications of security disruption attempts.
Suprapto said the incident on Jalan Sulawesi was believed to be connected with the Tolikara incident in Papua.
The pastor of Advent Church on Jalan Sulawesi, Ramli Mende, said the minor incident happened at around 5am.
According to information he said two people on a motorbike stopped in front of the church that morning and one of them got off the motorcycle and ried to burn a security post while the other was waiting on the bike.
Because some people living around the church saw them they then fled but the fire had already caused a flame which could immediately be put out so that the security post was not burned.
The people immediately reported the incident to the police.
The police discovered a bottle containing gasoline on the location believed to be used for the action.
"The police are still investigating it. We refer the case fully to the police. It is a minor incident and it did not affect church members," Mende said. (WDY)
