Villagers flee from soldiers

PADANG, West Sumatra (JP): Palembayan villagers fled from their homes following terror and intimidation allegedly committed by members of the Indonesian Military.

Local police chief Col. Dasrul Lamsuddin said on Tuesday that he had deployed police officers to keep surveillance on Palembayan village.

"We hope the villagers would return to their homes. We guarantee their security," he said.

Lamsuddin said Second Lt. Amir Hamzah, with his two brothers, gathered locals to attack Palembayan villagers. He said Amir was angry because the villagers had reportedly intended to take over a piece of land where swallows nests are cultivated for an up- market restaurant delicacies. The nests had been a lucrative source of income for Amir.

Amir and his accomplices began to destroy school buildings, places of worship and houses of the villagers early this month, police said. (06/28)