Sorong regent urged to resign

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)