JP/3/across

JP/3/across

Governor to take mayor's job

PADANG: West Sumatra Governor Zainal Bakar will take over on
Monday the responsibilities of Payakumbuh mayor from Darlis
Ilyas, whose has been inactive since March due to a graft case in
which he is implicated.

The official transfer of duty will take place on Monday
despite the absence of Darlis, who has claimed that he continues
as authorized mayor until the court has announced its verdict.

Zainal will appoint Yusrizal Baharin, assistant to the
provincial secretary for administrative affairs, to run the day-
to-day duties of the municipality.

"There is no reason to delay the ceremony despite the absence
of Darlis Ilyas. His absence will not affect the transfer of
duty," assistant to the provincial secretary for development
affairs Rusdi Lubis was quoted by Antara as saying.

The transfer of duty was arranged following the home affairs
minister's decree dated March 10, which approves Darlis'
dismissal.

Darlis claimed not to have received the ministerial decree,
although Rusli said the provincial administration had forwarded
it to him. -- Antara

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Across- Aceh-violence

JP/3/

Rebels shoot Marine in Aceh

BANDA ACEH: The latest gunfight between security troops and
armed Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatist rebels over the weekend
left a Marine Corps officer wounded.

Spokesman for the Aceh security operation command Maj. Zaenal
Mutaqin said on Saturday that First Lt. Martin Luther Ginting had
sustained a gunshot wound to his stomach during an exchange of
fire that had followed a military search of a GAM base in Matang
Guruh village in North Aceh, some 330 kilometers east of here.

Zainal told Antara that Martin had been admitted to a military
hospital in Lhokseumawe, the capital of North Aceh. -- Antara