Protesters call for dismissal of regent in North Sumatra

Calling themselves Serdang Bedagai Community Alliance, some 1,000 people protested, demanding that North Sumatra governor replace Serdang Bedagai Regent Chairullah following an alleged practice of corruption, collusion and nepotism in the administration.

The protesters also refused the extension of Chairullah's office term, which ended on Jan. 15.

The alliance coordinator, Syarifuddin, said one year after the regency was separated from Deli Serdang regency, most of the administration officials were filled by people close to the regent.

For instance, he said, the position of the education office head was given to the regent's brother, the health office head to his brother in-law and the head of tax and revenue office to his cousin.

"This practice of corruption, collusion and nepotism should end. We want the governor to find new replacements," Syarifuddin said on Tuesday in his speech in front of the protesters at the North Sumatra governor's office.

Moreover, he said, the regent had already been named a suspect in alleged graft of the 2003 Deli Serdang regental budget worth Rp 2.3 billion when he served as Deli Serdang's regental secretary.

North Sumatra prosecutor office spokesperson J. Ketaren confirmed on Tuesday that Chairullah was a suspect, adding that the regent had been questioned twice.

Responding to the demand, head of the North Sumatra provincial public relations office, Eddy Sofyan, who met with the protesters' representatives, said he would convey the demands to Governor T. Rizal Nurdin, who was attending a plenary meeting at North Sumatra provincial council when the protest took place. (JP/Apriadi Gunawan)