Police Arrest Five Suspects Over Palopo Violence

Jakarta (Antara) - Police have arrested five suspects in connection with recent local election-related violence in Palopo, South Sulawesi, in which several government offices have been burned. "Until this afternoon we have been informed five people have been arrested and questioned as suspects. Efforts are still being made to find other suspects involved in the incident," National Police spokesman Brigadier General Boy Rafli Amar said at a press conference here on Tuesday. He said the suspects include AT who is believed to be the instigator and S, S, M alias I who were caught carrying bottles containing gasoline as well as WS alias C believed to be involved in the torching. Boy said the police are still hunting three main actors in the incident and hoped they could be arrested immediately. "They are now still under interrogation by investigators while efforts continued to be taken to recover conditions," he said. Boy said the police hoped that supporters of all candidates in the recent Palopo mayor election would participate in the effort. The situation in one of the biggest cities in South Sulawesi has been put under the direct control of the South Sulawesi regional police chief due to the incident. A number of public facilities in Palopo including the mayor's office, the local General Election Commission office, the local office of Golkar Party, the Palopo Pos daily offcice and others had been burned by supporters whose candidate was declared losing in the election last Sunday. (*) reporting by ade irma junida