Habibie instructs ABRI to be firm against killers

JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie said on Thursday that he had instructed the Armed Forces (ABRI) to completely crack down on the perpetrators of the mysterious killing spree that began in East Java and spread to other places.

In response to a claim by the Islamic organization Matlaul Anwar, the President maintained the murders were purely criminal acts and did not have any political motive.

"The President said it was a crime and that he had ordered ABRI to settle the problem," Matlaul Anwar chairman Irsyad Djuali said after he and the organization's other leaders met the President at Merdeka Palace.

When asked whether he agreed with the President's view, Irsyad replied: "We have heard from various circles it was caused by a rivalry among the political elites, but we must trust the President's explanation that it was merely a crime".

Irsyad had urged the President to take quick steps because the killings might spread to other places, such as Banten, in West Java. Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto said recently that the killings were the result of a rivalry between factions of the political elite.

The killing spree has claimed more than 150 lives in East Java, mostly in Banyuwangi and Jember. Victims were people suspected of practicing black magic (santet), religious teachers, preachers and even ordinary farmers.

Angry and desperate people have tortured and even killed a number of people suspected of being "ninja killers" in Surabaya, Malang, Pasuruan, Banyuwangi and Jember.

Police shot two alleged killers in Jambi, Suryadi, 38, and Bukik, 45, on Thursday morning after they allegedly resisted police orders to surrender.

"We have arrested 68 santet killers so far," Jember Police chief Lt. Col. Madjid Tawil said on Thursday.

Malang Military Commander Col. Agus Suyitno complained that certain irresponsible groups had victimized people with mental disorders by sending them to several villages in Malang with the aim of creating tension among villagers.

Antara quoted him as saying that since Saturday, villagers had killed 10 victims suffering from mental disorders who they mistakenly identified as being killers who were usually masked, dressed in black, and attacked their victims at night.

Diponegoro Military Commander Maj. Gen. Tyasno Sudarto expressed concern over the violence that had spilled over into Central Java. He said people no longer hesitated to use violent and sadistic ways to force other people to bow to their own will.

In Serang, West Java, a number of subdistrict heads complained about the Serang prosecutor's office request for them to submit a list of people practicing witchcraft there.

"We were surprised by the request because we are afraid a similar situation to Banyuwangi will happen here," a local official said on Thursday as quoted by the Kompas daily.

In a statement Thursday the new National Labor Party (PBN) alleged the killings were organized and aimed at frightening people not to join new political parties. "The use of political violence will become a serious hurdle for cadre recruitment," its chairman Tohap Simanungkalit said. (prb/nur)