34 named suspects in council rampage

34 named suspects in council rampage

PALU, Central Sulawesi: Police said on Thursday they had named
at least 34 suspects in an attack on the Buol Legislative Council
and its speaker Amran Batalipu in Central Sulawesi earlier this
month.

The suspects, including 23 students, were among the 59 people
arrested after the assault on Dec. 16 during a demonstration by
thousands of people at the council.

Spokesman for the Central Sulawesi Police Adj. Sr. Comr. Agus
Sugianto said the 34 suspects were being held for further
investigation. If charged they could face a maximum sentence of
five years in prison.

He said five platoons of police and troops were still on guard
in the town in case of further unrest.

Amran was seriously injured in the attack by the protesters,
who beat and humiliated him by dragging him into the street. The
mob also stripped the council speaker except for his underwear.

The violence erupted after the councillors refused to receive
the demonstrators for a dialog on development issues in the newly
created regency.

The mob also went on a rampage, damaging the fence, doors,
windows, chairs and other facilities. The situation worsened when
they set fire to one room of the building.

The damage caused some Rp 2 billion (US$238,095) in losses to
the regency, while the council was closed as almost all
facilities were looted or seriously damaged. --Antara

;JP;NFK;
ANPAa..r..
Across-council-Buol-attack
34 named suspects in council rampage
JP/5/buol

Malang gets new mayor

MALANG, East Java: Peni Suparto and Bambang Priyo were elected
on Thursday as the new mayor and deputy mayor respectively of
Malang, East Java, by the local legislative council.

Suparto, nominated by the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and the Golkar Party, won 31 votes,
defeating H.M. Noer and Poernomo who took nine votes, while
another candidate Gandi Yogatama and his running mate Dewanti
Ruparin Diah received only four votes.

The mayoral election ran smoothly amid tight security as
dozens of students staged a rally outside the building. --Antara

;JP;NFK;
ANPAa..r..
Across-council-Buol-attack
34 named suspects in council rampage
JP/5/buol

17 officials to be dismissed for joining parties

KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: The provincial administration
vowed on Thursday to dismiss civil servants who also serve as
executives of political parties.

"Our data shows at least 17 civil servants in Southeast
Sulawesi have become executives of political parties," secretary
of the provincial administration La Ode Nsana said.

However, he said the officials concerned would first be
summoned to determine whether they wanted to retain their current
state posts or choose positions in their parties, on the
condition that they have to retire or apply for unpaid leave.

The political party law bans civil servants from joining
parties as board members, unless they retire or take temporarily
unpaid leave.

The 17 civil servants in question are entering retirement soon
or have little chances of advancing their career in the
bureaucracy, according to sources. --Antara