Fakfak regent mobbed

Fakfak regent mobbed

FAKFAK, Irian Jaya: Just two days after assuming his new post,
Wahiddin Puarara, the new regent of Fakfak, was mobbed by some
150 people on Sunday, with the regent's adjutant shooting one of
the attackers.

Unidentified people severely beat Wahiddin, his adjutant and
driver and destroyed three official vehicles in the village of
Weyati, some eight kilometers away from Fakfak.

Wahiddin and his driver were reportedly treated at Fakfak
Hospital.

There were no clear motives at the time to explain the mob's
sudden attack on Wahiddin and his entourage as they left an aid
handover ceremony for Weyati.

The regent's group dispersed as the mob intercepted and
attacked them, and deputy regent Fransiscus Hambore and his wife
managed to escape to the neighboring village of Pasir Putih,
about three kilometers from Weyati.

Local police chief Lt. Col. Totok Kasmiarto said officers had
been deployed to Weyati. "The officers failed to calm the angry
crowd. They had to open fire," Totok said.

Totok described the attack as an action which reached a
dangerous level. (eba)