Journalists in East Java receive death threats

Journalists in East Java receive death threats

SURABAYA (JP): Following threats made to Moslem preachers by
unidentified people here, journalists have been warned that they
will be among the next victims in the killing spree which has so
far claimed more than 150 lives in East Java.

The threats were printed on flyers and circulated widely among
the public in the provincial town of Jember.

"We have been smeared by reports of the killings, so it will
be better if we eliminate the reporters from Jember," one of the
unsigned flyers said. East Java Governor Imam Utomo said Tuesday
he would guarantee the personal safety of journalists reporting
on the gruesome murders.

Meanwhile, witnesses said that dozens of mysterious drifters
recently turned up in Jember, Banyuwangi, Surabaya, Malang and
Pasuruan. They were reportedly handed over to the authorities by
local residents. In a gruesome wave of revenge, angry mobs
decapitated a number of people suspected of being "ninja killers"
and carried their severed heads on poles through village streets
in Malang on Sunday and Monday.

Vigilante groups were formed after more than 150 people were
mysteriously murdered by what witnesses have said were masked
killers dressed in black. Many of the victims were preachers and
others were accused of practicing witchcraft.

Following frustration over the apparent inability of the
police and the military to bring the mysterious murder spree to
an end, there have been numerous reports of mob violence and
killings of suspected "ninjas" in recent days.

Police have arrested dozens of people in connection with the
murders, but say they have been unable to established a motive
for the killings that first began in August. Minister of Defense
and Security/Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto said in Jakarta
on Monday that 69 of the 157 suspects so far detained were
members of Nahdlatul Ulama -- the country's largest Islamic
organization whose members appear to have been targeted by the
so-called "ninja killers."

NU leaders have called for calm and have condemned revenge
killings by vigilantes. Wiranto has also said that conflict among
the country's political elite might be behind the murders.

In Jakarta, Antara reported that Achmad Tirtosudiro, the
chairman of the Association of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals
(ICMI), expressed regret on Tuesday over allegations made by
Nahdlatul Ulama chairman Abdurrahman Wahid, who on Sunday said
that at least one Cabinet minister was involved in the killings.

"A Moslem figure should have not talked like that," Achmad
told reporters at the State Palace after meeting President B.J.
Habibie.

Abdurrahman, better known as Gus Dur, said on Saturday his
group had identified the mastermind behind the wave of killings
but mentioned no names. Achmad said that after learning from
sources that Abdurrahman was referring to cooperatives minister
Adi Sasono, he checked with the minister.

"Gus Dur's statement was absurd and impossible. Adi Sasono
said Gus Dur was joking," he said. (nur/byg)