Death toll in E. Java killing may rise to 100

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)