Regent told to resign

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Community leaders in West Sumba have urged Regent Rudolf Malo to resign because of his inability to prevent a clash among residents which killed 27 people last November.

Antara reported Wednesday that 322 people, led by former two- term regent Umbu Djima, went to the council on Tuesday, when Malo was there, to demand he step down.

November's clash, involving residents of the Lola and Wewewa kampongs, was said to be triggered by suspicions that local administration jobs had been preferentially given to residents from one of the kampongs.

Malo was quoted as saying that he only hoped that the demands for his resignation reflected the will of all people in West Sumba. (yac)