Oyos Saroso H.N., Bandarlampung – The work of the Mesuji regency administration in Lampung province ground to a halt on Friday after the regent's building was burned down by an angry mob a day earlier.
The mob started the fire after the dismissal of deputy regent Ismail Ishak over a corruption conviction.
Mesuji Regent Khamamik and other regency administration officials have been forced to work from home in fear of further attacks. Hundreds of police were guarding the office compound on Friday while others, with the help of regency administration officers, were building checkpoints in preparation of a visit by Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi on Saturday.
"The home minister's visit hopefully will result in the best solution to the problem," Khamamik said.
Khamamik, who is also the provincial branch chairman of the National Democratic Party (PDK), suggested the ministry appoint a member of Ismail's family to replace him as Mesuji's deputy regent. "This is a win-win solution that we can offer to the minister. Otherwise, we will not be able to work if these conditions continue," he said.
Appointing an Ismail relative, he said, would help his family overcome their disappointment about the dismissal. The appointment, he said, had to be proposed by nominating parties the PDK and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).
Khamamik also said that public services could not be provided as most of the documents had been burned in the fire started by Ismail's supporters. Among them, he said, were 2009-2012 finance documents.
The mob, he said, also looted a number of administration properties, including safe deposit boxes and computer units. Even before setting the office alight, the mob had sealed the office and stopped officials from entering it for several days
The violence was triggered by Ismail's dismissal by Gamawan after being convicted over a 2006 corruption case, worth Rp 1.4 billion (US$152,600), in a state enterprise belonging to Tulangbawang regency. Ismail was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment and fined Rp 396 million.
The swearing in ceremony of Khamamik and Ismail, who were, elected lasted September 2011, was done in Menggala detention house in Tulangbawang on April 13. Ismail was returned to his cell afterwards.
Lampung Police's public relations division head, Adj. Comr. Sulistyaningsih, said police would tighten security in Mesuji, especially at the regent's official residence and offices.
"We have identified the perpetrators of Thursday's burning but have yet to conduct examination or name the suspects," Sulistyaningsih said.
She added that the attack was committed by about 300 Ismail supporters, 100 of whom came in three trucks from Register 45 Sungai Buaya regions, namely the Karyatani and Karyajaya subdistricts. The rest were Ismail's family members from Wiralaga, Gajahmati and Sungai Ceper subdistricts.
Separately, head of Mesuji regency administration's public relations division, Hary Prasetyo, estimated that the fire had caused Rp 2 billion in state losses. "We have been unable to work since Tuesday last week. We keep moving from one house to another," he said.