Villagers seek refuge from attack

Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara

In fear of attack by a former prointegration militia, hundreds of Tublopo villagers, including elderly people, children and women, in the district of West Amanuban, Timor Tengah Selatan regency, have sought refuge in the nearby forest.

Local figure Yohanes Marthen Selan said on Tuesday that the people had been leaving their homes since last week, following the death of a member of a former prointegration militia last Wednesday.

Matheos da Crus, a former militia member, was mobbed to death by locals who suspected him of committing adultery.

The villagers were hiding in the forest and appeared during the day only to feed their cattle before returning to the forest at night, Marthen Salen said.

The volatile situation had attracted the attention of the local administration, which sent regency secretary Ruben Izaac to investigate what was taking place in the village.

Izaac, who visited the village on Sunday, called on the villagers to return to their homes as rumors that the former prointegration militia would attack the village had not materialized.

Riding in a car and holding a megaphone, Izaac entered the forest calling on the villagers to come out and return home, Marthen Salen said.

"But none of them responded as it is not clear if the administration will guarantee their security. They said they believed that an attack by the former militia would occur some time," Marthen Salen.

Ruben told reporters after the visit that he had cooperated with local police to protect the villagers' security.