Luwu residents want change in status to that of province

Luwu residents want change in status to that of province

Antara, Belopa, South Sulawesi

Hundreds of thousands of Luwu regency residents signed a huge
white banner spread out on Opu Dg Risaju soccer field here on
Saturday to demand that the regency be declared a province.

Similar ceremonies were simultaneously held in Palopo, Palopo
regency; Masamba Luwu Utara in Masamba regency; and Malili Luwu
Timur in Malili regency, involving hundreds of thousands of
locals.

The ceremony in Belopa was led by Prof. Iskandar, who read the
demand for the establishment of Luwu province in his capacity as
chairman of the Committee for the Establishment of Luwu Province.

Present at the ceremony were Luwu Regent Kamrul Kasim, deputy
speaker of the Luwu regency legislative council Nurhidayah
Thalib, Luwu Utara Regent Lutfi A. Mufty, Luwu Timur Regent Hatta
and most subdistrict heads in Luwu regency.

Meanwhile in Palopo, thousands of locals remained in high
spirits even though drizzle showered Gaspa field, where the
ceremony to demand provincial status was held.

Palopo Mayor Ap. Tenriadjeng said the demand was a
manifestation of Luwu residents' desire to have the regency
declared a province.

He expressed hope that their aspirations would be discussed at
the national level -- by the House of Representatives -- after
the 2004 general election.

After the ceremony was over the residents participated in a
parade across the regency's capital.

If their demand is endorsed by the House, Luwu would likely
become the country's 34th province as the legislature has
recently endorsed the proposal on the establishment of the 33rd
province -- the Riau Islands province.