Mysterious death causes protest

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