Sampang regent's office attacked by angry mob
Sampang regent's office attacked by angry mob
SURABAYA (JP): Tired of the public service which has been
crippled for months due to the absence of the regent, hundreds of
residents of Sampang on the island of Madura ravaged the regent's
office and set an official car on fire on Thursday.
The people, armed with sharp weapons in their hands and coming
from several districts, went to the regent's office to meet
Juned, the official in charge at the office, to demand that the
newly-elected regent, Fadhilah Budiono, be sworn in soon.
It was not clear who started the rioting. The mob pelted the
regent's office windows with stones and damaged an official car
before setting it ablaze, eyewitnesses said.
Sampang Police Precinct chief Supt. Endroyoko confirmed the
incident, saying that no fatalities were reported.
The attackers amassed at the building, yelling "Long live
Fadhilah Budiono", Endroyoko said, adding that they were the
supporters of Budiono the regent elect.
In the July election, Fadhilah, a senior police
superintendent, secured the regent post with 23 votes, defeating
the National Awakening Party (PKB) candidate by only one ballot.
Fadhilah, the outgoing regent, was supported by the United
Development Party (PPP) and the Military (TNI)/National Police
factions at the regency legislative council.
He was supposed to be sworn in sometime in August. However,
the PKB faction strongly protested Fadhilah's victory, accusing
him of involvement in swindling food aid for refugees from
Sambas, West Kalimantan.
The protest led to the delay of his inauguration.
Early in September, some 5,000 people from various areas in
Sampang, protested the delay by occupying the regency office.
In mid September, the saga continued with President
Abdurrahman Wahid's order to postpone the inauguration of the
reelected regent Fadhilah.
The President, the founding father of PKB, suggested an
investigation be conducted into Fadhilah over the swindle
allegation.
Governor Imam said at that time that an investigation team
comprising officials of the Sampang regency administration and
the Ministry of Home Affairs would be set up.
It was not clear if the team had been set up and what it had
done, while Sampang has had no regent for months.
Imam told reporters on Thursday that there had been no
administrative activities in the regency of Sampang. (nur/sur)