Buffalo plus cash equals brother

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara (JP): Yacobus Hery has given his late younger brother's parents-in-law a headache instead of the 10 buffalo and Rp 5 million (US$2,100) in cash they have been persistently demanding.

Yacobus, a poor farmer, told the parents-in-law last week he would gladly meet all their requests as long as they revived his younger brother, Heronimus, who died aged 38 five years ago.

The buffaloes and cash that the parents have been demanding constitute traditional compensation for the mother-in-law's breast milk she used to feed her now widowed daughter.

"I lived a restless life before I eventually struck upon the appropriate answer which has successfully silenced my brother's parents-in-law," Yacobus said.

He said he assured them he would not only pay the compensation but would also throw a grand party if they could bring his brother back to life.

Yacobus insisted his counter demand was only "fair" because the late Heronimus once confided that his wife, Theresia, now 35, neglected him while he was seriously ill.

Theresia denied Yacobus' account. (yac/pan)