Murdered Poso cops buried in South Sulawesi

Andi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post, Makassar, South Sulawesi | Archipelago | Thu, October 18 2012, 4:22 PM

Two police officers who were killed by persons unknown in Manjani village, Poso, Central Sulawesi, were buried Thursday in their respective hometowns. A family funeral was held for Brig. Andi Sappa in Pabah village, Luwu regency. Chief. Brig. Sudirman was buried in Karaeng Bontomarannu Heroes Cemetery in Takalar regency.

Family members broke down in tears as the bodies arrived in Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport in the provincial capital of Makassar on Thursday morning to be handed over to the South Sulawesi Police in a military ceremony. Sappa is survived by a wife and two children, while Sudirman, left a wife and two daughters.

Family members, represented by Sudirman’s wife, Sitti Rabiah, 29, and Sappa’s father, Gabbu, demanded that the police bring the perpetrators to justice.

The bodies of Sappa and Sudirman were found buried in the same spot on Tuesday. They had been missing for eight days. The National Police have granted posthumous promotions to both Sudirman and Sappa for their deaths in the line of duty. Police investigating the case have yet to identify any suspects. (swd)