Joint team will visit Banyuwangi

SURABAYA: An eight-member team of the central government comprising representatives of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (Bakin), Armed Forces Intelligence Agency (BIA), National Police, Directorate General of Social and Political Affairs and the legal bureau of the Ministry of Home Affairs will start a two-day visit starting Friday to Banyuwangi, East Java, Antara reported.

East Java Governor Imam Utomo said Tuesday the team will further probe the unsolved Banyuwangi killing spree which has claimed around 200 lives, many of them religious teachers.

Imam said there was not sufficient proof to link the Banyuwangi regent to the brutal murders. Many residents and groups have raised such charges leading to demands that the regent, Col. Purnomo Sidik, step down.

The killing was allegedly sparked by the circulation of lists of suspected black magic practitioners which were compiled by the regent, who claimed instead that he aimed to protect those identified. (edt)