Mob destroys govt buildings

Mob destroys govt buildings

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: A mob destroyed three state buildings
following a violent dispute in Fakfak, hundreds miles east of
here, police said.

A state-owned radio office and two local administrative
buildings in the port city were ransacked, in an incident which
stemmed from a dispute between a local civilian security group
and refugees from Seram island, witnesses said.

Irian Jaya was renamed Papua in December by President
Abdurrahman Wahid in a concession to its people who refuse to
accept the existing name, which they say was forced on them by
Indonesian "colonialists".

The House of Representatives has yet to ratify the name
change.

Witnesses said Friday's trouble flared up when refugees
disembarking from a ship from Seram in strife-torn Maluku
province became angry at having to show their ID cards and hit
several men from a group of Papuans. (eba)