Bantaeng thieves turn themselves in

Bantaeng thieves turn themselves in

BANTAENG, South Sulawesi: At least 42 self-confessed robbers
voluntarily turned themselves over to police here in the past few
weeks fearing a public lynching, which has claimed at least four
lives.

The bizarre turn of events began in late July when residents
in 18 villages in three districts in the Bantaeng regency formed
a "forum" to take the law into their own hands.

"The people of Bantaeng are fed up with the vile actions of
these crooks who seem to able to do what they please, while the
police seem utterly helpless," forum spokesman M. Natsir told The
Jakarta Post here on Tuesday.

He claimed that some 4,000 people from 18 villages were
members of the forum.

Speaking of the deaths that had occurred, Natsir claimed that
they were merely trying to apprehend the thieves.

"We really don't want bloodshed, but since they tried to
resist, then we had to take action," he said, adding that in his
estimation there were some 300 thieves at large in the regency,
which is located some 150 kilometers south of Ujungpandang.

Bantaeng Police chief Lt. Col. Dedy Fauziah El Hakim
acknowledged that jail cells were filled with the self-processed
thieves.

He also acknowledged the existence of the "forum", but refused
to comment when asked about the group's propensity for taking the
law into their own hands. (27)