Killings have no link to military reshuffle

Killings have no link to military reshuffle

SURABAYA (JP): Maj. Gen. Djoko Subroto, who has headed the
Brawijaya Military Command for only six months, was replaced on
Thursday by Maj. Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Subagyo Hadisiswoyo described the
hasty tour of duty as normal, and denied that Djoko's replacement
was caused by his failure to handle mysterious massacres in which
hundreds of people, mostly Muslim preachers, were killed late
last year.

"This replacement has nothing to do with public pressure or
demands. There are also replacements in other Regional Military
Commands (Kodam)," the general said.

Subagyo ordered Ryamizard to hold intensive dialogs with
clerics and other leaders to understand public aspirations.

"Through constructive dialog we will be able to develop
political communication among the nation's elements," the general
said.

A fact-finding team established by Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) has
announced that at least 253 victims were murdered since August,
for allegedly practicing witchcraft. Most of them were NU
preachers in Banyuwangi. The murders were followed by mob
slayings, in which scores were killed for suspected involvement
in the murders.

Banyuwangi District Court is currently holding the trials of
34 people charged with the killings. NU also demanded the sacking
of Banyuwangi Regent Purnomo Sidik for his alleged reluctance to
investigate the case.

"No one is above the law, but there are legal procedures which
should be followed," Subagyo said in response to the demands.

The killings had also spread to other cities in Central Java
and West Java.

Djoko replaced Maj. Gen. Djadja Suparman in July last year.
Djadja is currently Jakarta Military Commander.

Ryamizard, a two star general, is married to former vice
president Gen. (ret) Try Sutrisno's eldest child, Trystiana.

His last position was deputy chief of Army Strategic Reserves
Command (Kostrad). (nur/prb)