Sorong provocateur arrested

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): Sorong police have arrested a man for allegedly provoking the Malamoi tribe to close down government and private company offices during a demonstration in Sorong last week.

Chief of the Sorong police precinct Lt. Col. Viktor Sitorus confirmed the arrest on Tuesday and said the man, identified only as MF, had instigated the closure of the offices in the tribal protest which demanded Sorong Regent John Piet Wanane resign.

Sitorus said that MF had previously joined various demonstrations demanding West Papua independence.

Last week's protest turned ugly when protesters began arbitrarily demanding the closure of various offices.

The protesters demanded employees hand over keys and locked the offices after employees were forced to vacate the premises.

Hengky Rumbiak, deputy chairman of the Sorong regency legislative council told The Jakarta Post by telephone on Tuesday that most government offices were now operating.

"However, several private company offices remain closed, as the Malamoi people have yet to return the keys of the offices," Hengky said.

Representatives from Malamoi say they will return the keys after regent Wanane resigns.

Meanwhile, Sorong police are also hunting for seven people who allegedly ordered a 14-year-old boy to torch a Church.

Viktor said that the boy, who was not identified, claimed that he had been promised Rp 100,000 if he succeeded in burning down a nearby church.

The boy remains in police detention. (eba)