Death toll in E. Java killing may rise to 100
JAKARTA (JP): The death toll of murdered people in East Java's mysterious killings may soon rise to more than 100, given reports that eight people have been found dead in similar circumstances in Jember regency.
Ninety-three victims have been confirmed in Banyuwangi regency since August. In September it was also reported that similar killings took place on Madura, an island off East Java -- where Antara said "a number of people" had been killed.
The recent reports from Banyuwangi said the targeted victims had initially been those believed to be "black magic practitioners" as were the victims in Jember and Madura. However, according to community leaders, most of the later victims were reportedly Moslem preachers.
On Saturday the news agency quoted the head of a traditional Moslem boarding school in Jember, Imron Mursid, as saying that eight had died and 20 others who felt they were targets were seeking refuge elsewhere.
"The assaults were similar to what happened to the late Kyai Mukid in mid-September in the Arjasa subdistrict," Imron said.
Imron was referring to the mysterious killings reportedly perpetrated by a group of masked people clad in ninja-like outfits.
"The attackers were a mob of about 20 masked people, but I know their identity," the head of the Raudhatul Jannah (Heaven's Garden) boarding school said, without elaborating.
Banyuwangi is a regency 280 kilometers east of East Java's capital Surabaya with a population of 1.5 million people. The regency capital, Banyuwangi, is a coastal town. Jember is about 105 km west of Banyuwangi.
In Banyuwangi, people have begun to speculate about possible motives behind the killing spree in which, according to Antara on Sunday, 94 people had died.
Some believe they are revenge killings -- for instance, people involved in disputes paying killers to settle scores -- while others are speculating on possible "political motives".
Banyuwangi and Jember are predominantly Moslem areas rooted in the Nadhlatul Ulama (NU) tradition. NU is the country's largest Moslem organization led by popular government critic Abdurrahman Wahid. It has the support of some 30 million "traditional" Moslem.
Although some local NU leaders in Banyuwangi have said they suspect the murders to be revenge attacks, leaders of the East Java chapter of the organization have consulted with Abdurrahman in Jakarta.
From Banyuwangi Antara reported on Sunday that East Java Military Commander Maj. Gen. Djoko Subroto had denied any involvement of his personnel in the murders.
He was in the regency's Genteng subdistrict discussing the sensational killings with local community leaders. Also present were East Java Governor Imam Utomo, East Java Police chief Maj. Gen. Moch. Dayat, East Java chief prosecutor Adnan Kasian and Banyuwangi military commander Col. Agus Suyitno.
Djoko said the issues surrounding the killings were still unclear.
"For the time being, it's still unclear. Let's just wait for the police to finish their investigation. People must fight against efforts to divide them against their religious teachers and the Armed Forces," he said.
When asked, Djoko said there had been no indications that Armed Forces members were involved -- despite speculation that some military deserters were involved as the killings had reportedly been carried out quickly and ruthlessly.
Similar to his claim about the killings in Madura last month, Djoko said the security apparatus temporarily assumed the killings to be "economy-motivated and revenge attacks" and that the perpetrators could be paid assassins.
Dayat was reported as telling journalists that he would "wipe out" killers caught red-handed, adding that "police intelligence operations" had been launched.
One hundred elite Mobile Brigade personnel had been deployed as an antiguerrilla force in the affected areas, he said. Dayat also said the police had arrested 58 suspects, including three thought to have been paying the killers.
"We'll arrest the mastermind eventually (after investigating these suspects)," he said.
Police, troops in armored cars and frightened residents armed with knives and sharpened sticks patrolled the streets of Banyuwangi on Sunday in a bid to stop the mysterious wave of grisly murders. (anr/aan)