Banyuwangi's regent resigns

Banyuwangi's regent resigns

Banyuwangi Regent, T. Purnomo Sidik has finally resigned from
his post. He stepped down after an organization known as the
Group of 101 insisted that he relinquish the position. The demand
was part of a package deal proposed to resolve the mysterious
mass killings of alleged black magic practitioners in East Java
early this year.

We understand Purnomo Sidik's willingness to resign to be in
response to the fact that locals lost confidence in his
leadership and withdrew support. The regent was widely perceived
as incapable of solving the killings. However, some people
believed he had the capacity to resolve the horror in which more
than a hundred people were killed. They also suspected his
involvement in the incidents.

The regent's decision to resign, at the urging of the regional
legislature, is an act that is far more honorable and far more
constitutional than if he were forced to so under public
pressure. Furthermore, waiting for the latter to happen would
provide a dangerous precedent, since this kind of action could
lead to the emergence of people's courts.

-- Jawa Pos, Surabaya