Release of youth leader demanded

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Hundreds of residents staged a protest on Friday outside the East Nusa Tenggara council building, demanding the release of a local youth leader allegedly detained by soldiers.

Aldi Dalton Ndolu, the chairman of Kayu Putih Youth Organization, was apprehended by soldiers on Thursday after he attended the funeral of a local resident in Kupang city.

Separately, Kupang Military Police chief Col. Helvis confirmed that the military police had detained Aldi for one night for questioning, but the youth leader had already been handed over to the local police headquarters for further interrogation.

Aldi was taken to the military police headquarters for questioning due to his alleged involvement in the beating of a soldier in the city. -- JP