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)