Kampar regency again paralyzed after violent protest

Haidir Anwar Tanjung, The Jakarta Post, Pekanbaru, Riau

Teachers and civil servants in Kampar staged strikes against Kampar Regent Jefri Noer on Wednesday, a day after a violent clash with police that left two students with serious gunshot wounds.

The strikes again paralyzed schools and public services across the regency, some 60 kilometers west of the Riau provincial capital, Pekanbaru.

Demonstrators said they were protesting against the Minister of Home Affairs, Hari Sabarno, for not meeting their demands the central government endorse the dismissal of Jefri.

Protest coordinator M. Idris said the strikes would continue indefinitely if the central government refused to endorse the dismissal.

Separately, Riau Governor Rusli Zainal said he would ask the Kampar government secretary to temporarily take over the wheels of bureaucracy in Kampar.

The move was arranged as Hari issued a ruling that prohibited Jefri from making any strategic decisions until his case was resolved.

"The secretary has to take care of the Kampar bureaucracy in order to prevent the loss of public services," Rusli said. He urged the teachers and students to resume classes, saying the ongoing strike would cost the students dearly.

Hari had contacted him, saying that the case would be resolved after the April 5 elections, Rusli said. "While waiting for the decision, the students and teachers should resume classes," he said.

Kampar streets on Wednesday were largely deserted as hundreds of police remained vigilant in the Mahligai Bungsu Building compound where thousands of protesters had gathered on Tuesday.

Police opened fire on the protesters on Tuesday angered at their slow dispersal. Two students were shot and five were arrested in the incident.

The ongoing action by teachers, students and civil servants in the regency during the past two months has also disrupted businesses.

Irvan, a contractor in the regency, complained that he could not set up his business plan as Jefri had yet to file 2004 budget proposal to the Kampar regency council.

The problems in Kampar began last month when Jefri ordered a teacher to leave a meeting room after the teacher questioned him about the regency's low budget for education.

The order was perceived as an insult to the teaching profession by teachers and students in the regency, and it was followed by a series of large protests. The Kampar Regency Council then dismissed Jefri from his post.

Jefri has been target of public anger before following several incidents that reduced his popularity among the public, including an allegation he had used a fake high school diploma when he contested the regent's post two years ago.