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