Banyuwangi residents guard themselves

By Ainur R. Sophiaan

BANYUWANGI, East Java (JP): Sixty-year-old Ashari was an ordinary farmer in Karang Bendo village, Rogojampi district in Banyuwangi regency. He lived in a modest house built of stone and bamboo with his three children. His wife passed away five years ago. One day in early September villagers were shocked when they found Ashari's mutilated body on the banks of a small river.

Lilik recalled she faintly heard people entering in the dark, but thought they were her two brothers coming from a relative's house. "My father's body was barely recognizable," Lilik, Ashari's eldest daughter said in tears.

Another victim of East Java's mysterious murder spree was Khudlori, 47, a peasant who taught Koran reading every evening in a small mosque in Wongsorejo district.

One night in mid September the father of two was assaulted by a group wearing black ninja-like outfits and masks. They strangled him with a plastic rope and stabbed him several times.

The body was then abandoned by his murderers on his own terrace. Neighbors who knew of the assault said they were helpless.

Ashari and Khudlori are two out of at least 142 victims of killings which are believed to be related in their methods and targets. The independent Commission for Missing People and Victims of Violence (Kontras) last week said the toll was 157.

National Police chief Lt. Gen. Roesmanhadi said on Tuesday 85 out of the 142 victims killed in 11 East Java regencies were from Banyuwangi. The murders which initially seemed to target suspected practitioners of "black magic" have spread fear among residents because it soon turned out that targets included Islamic teachers, noted figures and peasants.

Dozens of Islamic boarding schools here are now being tightly guarded by their students around the clock; all visitors are forced to answer a series of questions.

The head of the Minhajut Thullab boarding school, Thoha Muntoha from Tegalharjo village in Glenmore district, reiterated locals' belief of how the tragedy started.

He said the killings, which have cost the lives of mostly Nahdhatul Ulama members -- Banyuwangi is one of many NU bases -- were triggered by a radiogram from Banyuwangi regent Purnomo Sidik, ordering district heads to list black magic practitioners.

Purnomo has said he had intended "to save" the alleged practitioners from being targets of public anger, following the death of a few residents reportedly treated by the healers.

The instruction also stated the inventory should be done accurately and with caution, and the deadline for every district was set for Aug. 21. "I don't know how it started," Thoha said, "but the data sent by the village heads leaked everywhere and the listing was absurd. I even saw my friend's name on it while I know for sure he is not a black magic practitioner." Strangely, Thoha added, there were also several versions of the list.

Since late July some notable figures have received anonymous letters, with at least one threatening death for anyone who got in the way of a self-claimed "antiwitchcraft movement". Its acronym, Gantung, chillingly translates to "hang".

The letter also said: "On behalf of Gantung (Gerakan Anti Tenung): I am neither a hit man nor a former member of the (banned) Indonesian Communist Party (PKI). This is not revenge but (we are) an association of street people whose relatives were killed by black magicians. Our membership has now reached 199 people, spread throughout Banyuwangi."

Locals who claim to have helplessly witnessed the killers in action said the murderers -- described as tall, big-muscled men -- appeared to be well trained. Their faces were covered with ninja-like black masks and they wore dark outfits, complete with knives and sickles; a few also carried walkie-talkies.

Killings have always been preceded by the power in the target's home being cut. The killers were sometimes seen arriving by motorcycle, private vehicle or public transport. Some preachers said they had received threats by phone and letter. Some threats were even expressed directly by people visiting like ordinary guests. Some of the threats were not realized given the students tight security operations.

But Kontras has said at least half of the victims were religious teachers, while the central NU headquarters has said the teachers were the majority of victims.

One survivor, K.H. Hanief, was attacked at his boarding school by four "ninjas" in Sumberkembang, Srono district. Hanief fought them off -- he is still being treated at Al Huda Hospital in Genteng for his injuries. "I'm surprised that they (the killers) could escape without a scratch because the boarding school was surrounded by the students," he said.

Residents here are disappointed with the security forces, whom they say have disregarded locals' reports of the threats.

One person once contacted the police after receiving a similar threat -- an attacker eventually came one night. Luckily his neighbors managed to prevent another killing.

"It is only to be expected that people finally took the law into their own hands," Hanief, the survivor said.

Banyuwangi Police Chief Lt.Col. Eddy M. has denied the allegations that police have been slow."We have taken preventive measures by evacuating likely targets." Police have said at least 270 out of 377 people on the list have been given protection.

Hanief described the "astonishing" nerve of the "ninja". He said one was recently captured by locals who tied a plastic rope around his neck, and forcing him to say whose orders he was following. "But he kept his silence and even challenged the locals to kill him." Such nerve, he said, would likely only come from highly trained people judging by their ability to enter targeted sites and escape without a trace. "I'm not accusing anyone. (We're) only amazed that (the killings) are going on simultaneously -- what is going on?"

K.H. Ahmad Gozali from Rogojampi, another survivor, questioned the links between the murders and the police's taking of photographs of several houses of people believed to practice black magic at the end of August -- when seven had been killed.

"I was even more mystified when shortly after the photo-taking the death toll rose to 17," Ahmad, the teacher said.

Patrols are continuing every night here. All passing vehicles are checked. Besuki police chief Col. Budi Utomo said he guaranteed residents' security.

"But I have never believed in officers' promises," said resident Khusaini, "I do not want to gamble with my life."