42 people named suspects in Ciamis killing spree

JAKARTA (JP): Police named on Saturday 42 people as suspects involved in the Ciamis killing spree in West Java, which has claimed at least 18 deaths.

"The 42 suspects varied in their involvement in the killings. Some admit to being executioners, some are accomplices to the murders and some are the ones who hired the killers," Priangan Police chief Col. Bahrunsyah said on Saturday.

The suspects have been detained at Ciamis Police station, some 130 kilometers southeast of here, since a full investigation of the killings began last week.

In a related development, Agus S. of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) revealed the result of a meeting between Kontras and National Police chief Gen. Roesmanhadi on Friday afternoon.

He said police would take serious measures to control the terror and stop the killings.

"We have submitted data about killers who have not been turned in. We also provided details of interviews with suspected murderers. It is up to the police and Gen. Wiranto now," Agus said on Saturday.

Kontras has interviewed six suspected murderers. Despite confessing to the crimes, they continued to roam the villages.

At the meeting, Kontras tipped off the police, providing names of officials suspected of involvement in the killings.

"We believe police knew this from the beginning but could do little because of the involvement of certain Armed Forces officials."

Local authorities admitted that bodies had been discovered since last October, while reports of executions have been made since January.

Agus said the Kontras team in Sukabumi faced difficulties gathering data as the situation in the Ciamis area was constantly changing.

"On Saturday afternoon we heard that residents were intimidated by some army officials. Ugly rumors of killers on the loose have been circulating. People are still terrified." (edt)