Sorong regent urged to resign

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Thousands of demonstrators demanded on Monday that Sorong regent John Piet Wanane step down for alleged corruption, collusion and nepotism.

They also urged the closure of 11 government and private companies in the town, some 700 kilometers west of here.

The protesters, mostly from the Malamoi tribe, broke into the company offices, asked for the keys of the buildings and ordered all employees to leave.

No violence was reported during the demonstration.

"They shut the buildings' doors and sealed them," Hengky Rumbiak, deputy chairman of the regency legislative council, told The Jakarta Post in a telephone interview on Tuesday.

State buildings targetted were the regency's legislative council and the town's administration, forestry and property tax offices. The other buildings included the state oil company Pertamina, PT Santa Fe Energi Resource, PT Henrizon Iriana Arara and PT Intimpura offices.

The demonstrators said that they would allow the offices to open after regent Piet Wanane quit his post, Hengky said.

It was the second rally demanding the regent's dismissal since last month. (eba)