East Java killing spree continues<\/p>\n
SURABAYA, East Java (JP): A 65-year-old woman became the
\nlatest victim of the two-week-old killing spree in the Malang
\narea, which has so far claimed nine lives.<\/p>\n
Alimah Saniwar was found dead in the wee hours of Wednesday
\nmorning at her home in Sumber Runcing village, Pagak district,
\nMalang, some 90 kilometers south of Surabaya. Witnesses said she
\nsuffered severe slash wounds to her back and her house was also
\ntorched by a mob.<\/p>\n
Her blind daughter Hati, 35, survived the incident with some
\ninjuries.<\/p>\n
Malang Regional Police chief Col. Aryanto confirmed the murder
\non Thursday, saying police were investigating the case and
\ngathering information from Alimah's relatives and neighbors.<\/p>\n
\"The modus operandi in this case is similar to the previous
\nmurders as the victim's home was located in a remote area,
\nseparated from other houses. It's clear that whoever did this did
\nso in systematic and premeditated way.<\/p>\n
\"She was living in the middle of a corn field. Her body was
\nfound at the back of the house and the killers set her home
\nalight. The neighbors only found out about the incident after
\nthey saw the fire,\" Aryanto explained.<\/p>\n
Aryanto further revealed that based on investigations so far
\nthere are indications the killing spree is possibly politically
\nmotivated.<\/p>\n
He did not elaborate further, but stated that most of the 21
\nmurder suspects detained were relatives of members of the banned
\nIndonesian Communist Party (PKI).<\/p>\n
Aryanto mentioned four factors which he found pertinent to the
\ncase.<\/p>\n
\"First, it's public knowledge that the area south of Blitar
\nand South Malang was a strong PKI base. The area witnessed the
\nfiercest ever battle between the PKI and the Armed Forces, which
\nwere supported by GP Ansor, the Nahdlatul Ulama's (NU) task
\nforce,\" Aryanto said.<\/p>\n
The second is the fact that the killings were done when the
\nvictims were at their most vulnerable, such as when they were
\npraying or asleep.<\/p>\n
\"The third is the impact of freedom and reform, which makes
\nthem tend to take the law into their own hands. The final factor
\nis the lack of security personnel available to cover the area
\nprone to killings and riots,\" Aryanto said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile chief of the Brawijaya Military Command Maj. Gen.
\nSudi Silalahi denied the killings were politically motivated,
\narguing instead that \"they were spontaneous actions\".<\/p>\n
East Java Police chief Maj. Gen. M. Dayat alleged earlier this
\nweek the person behind the continuing murder spree was a wanted
\ncriminal from Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Without elaborating, Dayat said the murderers were paid Rp 3
\nmillion by the suspected mastermind from Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Prior to the latest killing, eight people have died in four
\nseparate attacks in the regency since Dec. 9. The murders
\noccurred in Pagak district, Ampelgading district, Kalipare and
\nSumbermanjing Wetan in South Malang.<\/p>\n
In a bid to stop the murders from escalating, GP Ansor formed
\nan investigation team on Thursday.<\/p>\n
A similar step was also taken by the East Java Provincial
\nCouncil, with several legislators departing for Malang to gain
\nfirsthand information.<\/p>\n
Both teams strongly believe that there may be a connection
\nbetween the Malang murders and the Banyuwangi killings last year.<\/p>\n
Over 100 died in the Banyuwangi killings.<\/p>\n
\"The mobs were sent to kill people and create instability in
\nareas known as NU's strongholds. This time their long-term goal
\nis to shake Abdurrahman Wahid's government,\" Farhan S., head of
\nEast Java's GP Ansor, said.<\/p>\n
The killings in Banyuwangi, some 290 kilometers southwest of
\nSurabaya, began in September last year.<\/p>\n
At least 150 people were killed in six regencies. The killers,
\nmostly ninja-garbed, initially targeted people allegedly
\npracticing black magic, however, Muslim preachers and teachers
\nlater also became victims. (nur\/edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/east-java-killing-spree-continues-1447893297",
"image": ""
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