Two journalists die on Sunday

Two journalists die on Sunday

JAKARTA: A reporter of weekly publication Ambisi, Abdul Munir
Lubis, hanged himself last Saturday after suffering an illness
for the last three months, while at the same time former reporter
of news portal Tempo News Room, Martua Manullang, died while
trapped in a fire in Karet, Central Jakarta.

Lubis, 37, was found hanging from an electricity cable tied to
the doorframe of his bedroom at 12 midday at his home on Jl. H.
Mali, Duri Kosambi, Central Jakarta. Lubis, who had been a
reporter for 12 years, left a wife, Asmaini, and two children.

According to Asmaini, Lubis had suffered nerve problems in his
head and had undergone surgery. "But his condition got worse ...
he couldn't move his fingers during the last month," she said.

Asmaini said a shaman stated that three people had put a jinx
on her husband. But she refused a post-mortem examination at the
morgue of Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital.

Separately, fire gutted a flat at Jl. Karet Karya, Central
Jakarta, around midday. The fire killed Martua, who was the
tenant in room 23C on the third floor. His body was found on the
second floor of the three-story building.

Witnesses speculated that suicide may have been attempted as
they saw that the fire had started near Martua's room on the
third floor.

However, police said they were still investigating the cause
of the fire -- whether it was caused by a suicide or by a short
circuit.--JP