THE bamboo-walled home belonging to Supriadi, 40, in Gading hamlet, Karanggayam village, Blega district, Bangkalan, Madura, was empty. Five police officers were guarding the home of the head of the village voting committee in the election of the Governor of East Java. A number of people were roaming around, glancing suspiciously at anyone who approached.

The police needed to guard the house because the life of its owner was threatened. Supriadi