East Java killing spree continues

East Java killing spree continues

SURABAYA, East Java (JP): A 65-year-old woman became the
latest victim of the two-week-old killing spree in the Malang
area, which has so far claimed nine lives.

Alimah Saniwar was found dead in the wee hours of Wednesday
morning at her home in Sumber Runcing village, Pagak district,
Malang, some 90 kilometers south of Surabaya. Witnesses said she
suffered severe slash wounds to her back and her house was also
torched by a mob.

Her blind daughter Hati, 35, survived the incident with some
injuries.

Malang Regional Police chief Col. Aryanto confirmed the murder
on Thursday, saying police were investigating the case and
gathering information from Alimah's relatives and neighbors.

"The modus operandi in this case is similar to the previous
murders as the victim's home was located in a remote area,
separated from other houses. It's clear that whoever did this did
so in systematic and premeditated way.

"She was living in the middle of a corn field. Her body was
found at the back of the house and the killers set her home
alight. The neighbors only found out about the incident after
they saw the fire," Aryanto explained.

Aryanto further revealed that based on investigations so far
there are indications the killing spree is possibly politically
motivated.

He did not elaborate further, but stated that most of the 21
murder suspects detained were relatives of members of the banned
Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).

Aryanto mentioned four factors which he found pertinent to the
case.

"First, it's public knowledge that the area south of Blitar
and South Malang was a strong PKI base. The area witnessed the
fiercest ever battle between the PKI and the Armed Forces, which
were supported by GP Ansor, the Nahdlatul Ulama's (NU) task
force," Aryanto said.

The second is the fact that the killings were done when the
victims were at their most vulnerable, such as when they were
praying or asleep.

"The third is the impact of freedom and reform, which makes
them tend to take the law into their own hands. The final factor
is the lack of security personnel available to cover the area
prone to killings and riots," Aryanto said.

Meanwhile chief of the Brawijaya Military Command Maj. Gen.
Sudi Silalahi denied the killings were politically motivated,
arguing instead that "they were spontaneous actions".

East Java Police chief Maj. Gen. M. Dayat alleged earlier this
week the person behind the continuing murder spree was a wanted
criminal from Jakarta.

Without elaborating, Dayat said the murderers were paid Rp 3
million by the suspected mastermind from Jakarta.

Prior to the latest killing, eight people have died in four
separate attacks in the regency since Dec. 9. The murders
occurred in Pagak district, Ampelgading district, Kalipare and
Sumbermanjing Wetan in South Malang.

In a bid to stop the murders from escalating, GP Ansor formed
an investigation team on Thursday.

A similar step was also taken by the East Java Provincial
Council, with several legislators departing for Malang to gain
firsthand information.

Both teams strongly believe that there may be a connection
between the Malang murders and the Banyuwangi killings last year.

Over 100 died in the Banyuwangi killings.

"The mobs were sent to kill people and create instability in
areas known as NU's strongholds. This time their long-term goal
is to shake Abdurrahman Wahid's government," Farhan S., head of
East Java's GP Ansor, said.

The killings in Banyuwangi, some 290 kilometers southwest of
Surabaya, began in September last year.

At least 150 people were killed in six regencies. The killers,
mostly ninja-garbed, initially targeted people allegedly
practicing black magic, however, Muslim preachers and teachers
later also became victims. (nur/edt)