`Open' sorcerer blends magic and science<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Upbeat sorcerer Ki Gendeng Pamungkas belongs to
\nIndonesia's new breed of wizards who blend magic and science.<\/p>\n
The man makes no secret of his "dark" business which has made
\nhim amazingly rich with a self-declared monthly income of up to
\nRp 60 million and businesses ranging from a car showroom to
\nshrimp ponds.<\/p>\n
His clients come from all walks of life: from newspaper boys
\nand prostitutes to well-placed bureaucrats striving to secure
\ntheir standard of living or positions.<\/p>\n
Unlike other wizards or sorcerers who generally consider it
\ntaboo to talk about their activities in public, Ki Gendeng bares
\nall to the press for publication, except certain information like
\nhis date of birth, the identity of some of his clients and how he
\nperforms the sorcery.<\/p>\n
In an informal gathering with journalists at the Jakarta
\nJakarta magazine yesterday, the man from East Java admitted to
\nkilling 734 people and disabling more than 500 others since he
\nmade his debut in 1978.<\/p>\n
The fees he obtains from clients have rocketed from Rp 500,000
\n(US$180) in 1978 to several "billion" at present. He said that
\nsince diversifying his business in 1985, he has been selective
\nabout targets.<\/p>\n
"I don't want to trigger political chaos," said Ki Gendeng,
\nwho studied his magic skills not only across Indonesia but in
\nother countries like Haiti and India.<\/p>\n
He focuses not only on so-called black magic, but also
\npractices "white" magic for healing and "gray" magic, a
\ncombination of black and white for "positive purposes."<\/p>\n
Ki Gendeng calls his sorcery method "teleco-physicho
\nkinetics", which relies on mental concentration and the help of a
\ndevil he says is always with him.<\/p>\n
His clients are not only Indonesians but foreigners as well
\nwho ask for his help through letters sent by fax, in which the
\ntarget person's date of birth and photographs are provided.<\/p>\n
"There is no physical barrier to sorcery", he said.<\/p>\n
But something does worry him: A controversial government-
\nsponsored bill which threatens sorcerers with hefty jail terms.<\/p>\n
Criminologist Tubagus Roni said the bill contains major flaws
\nconcerning sorcery. "Sorcery cannot be proved scientifically and
\nlaw enforcers will have difficulty proving whether the suspect is
\nguilty or not. (pan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/open-sorcerer-blends-magic-and-science-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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