Spokesman removed amid protest

BOGOR (JP): Bogor Mayor Iswara Natanegara decided on Wednesday to remove municipality spokesman Yus Herdiyus from his post.

He said the decision followed mass protests by locals and students accusing the official of skimming profits from the distribution of hundreds of tons of rice in a government- sponsored operation during his tenure as South Bogor district chief from 1998 until last year.

Yus will soon be posted as chief of administrative affairs in the Village Community Development office.

Yus' replacement was part of a reshuffle affecting a total of 55 officials within the administration.

"This (reshuffle) is meant to broaden the officials' experience in various fields," he said. "And to those (officials) that have made mistakes in the past, this is a chance to improve their work and show their abilities," Iswara added. (21/24/edt)