The Former Machete Vendor of Gunung Biru

ANDI Baso Tahir has many, many memories of Santoso, Indonesia's most-wanted fugitive. The 38-year-old was close to Santoso after both underwent military training at Gunung Biru in Central Sulawesi's Poso Regency, not long after the conflict between Muslim and Christian communities broke out in December of 1998. The conflict arose after brawls erupted between Muslim and Christian youths.

Andi's most vivid memory is of Santoso calling in on him at his home, located near the Trans-Sulawesi Highway in Tokorondo, around 100 meters from the mosque where the pair would recite the Quran together at the village mosque. He said Santoso liked to visit, particularly just before or after noon prayers. "I would usually hear the sound of his Honda GL Pro motorbike stopping outside my house, after which he would utter a greeting and say he was hungry and needed food," he told Tempo recently.

February 9, 2016