Mysterious death causes protest

ATAMBUA, Belu: At least 1,000 residents of Atambua, mostly motorcycle taxi (ojek) drivers, staged a demonstration on Saturday over the death of their colleague, Roni Taneo, 30.

Demonstrators packed the Atambua Hospital on Saturday afternoon, waiting for the outcome of a postmortem examination on Roni.

The incident began when Roni, who was driving his motorcycle in front of a military housing complex in Atambua, the capital of Belu, hit Sarinah, the wife of First. Sgt. Armansyah. Sarinah suffered a head injury and was taken to the hospital for treatment.

The cause of Roni's death remains in question. It is not known if he died from injuries suffered in the accident. However, rumors have circulated that he was beaten to death by military personnel in the complex.

In response to the rumors, residents gathered at the hospital to demand that justice be done in the case. The crowd peacefully dispersed after government officials from Belu regency and Roni's family urged them to go home.

Roni is survived by a wife, Yosefina Tampani, 27, and two children. -- Antara