SANTOSO'S DEATH WILL HELP EXPEDITE DEVELOPMENT

 By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, July 19 (Antara) - The gunfight between the Tinombala Task Force and the armed terrorist group in Poso, Central Sulawesi, on Monday afternoon ended in the death of suspected leader of the group, Santoso alias Abu Wardah.          Deputy Regional Police Chief of Central Sulawesi, Senior Commissioner Leo Bona Lubis, stated on Tuesday that the police has confirmed that one of the two radicals shot dead by the police-military joint task force was Santoso alias Abu Wardah, the leader of Poso's armed terror group in Central Sulawesi.          "Based on physical examination, the body is of Santoso. We are now awaiting the result of the DNA test," he remarked at the Bhayangkara Hospital in Palu, Central Sulawesi, on Tuesday.          Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo hoped that Poso would soon recover and stability will return after the armed terrorist group was crushed by the Tinombala Operation Task Force on Monday evening.          "Following Santoso's reported death, Central Sulawesi, particularly Poso, would soon attain stability and witness accelerated development," Minister Tjahjo Kumolo said.          The success of the military-police joint team in decimating the terror group was lauded by many sides, including President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and legislators.