Mob vandalizes shaman's home
JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of villagers in the Srono subdistrict of East Java's Banyuwangi regency vandalized and looted the house of an alleged practitioner of black magic in Kepundungan village, police said on Saturday.
Antara reported that the alleged magician, a 45-year-old shopkeeper identified as Karno, and his family were unharmed in the attack on Friday. Banyuwangi Police chief Lt. Col. Iman Soejarwo confirmed the incident.
The violence was preceded by rumors that Karno's neighbor, Musimah, 40, gave birth to a pile of white cloth containing hair, hay and needles. Villagers alleged Karno was responsible for the rumored birth.
However, Karno said the villagers envied the success of his store. He said his properties were looted, including Rp 1.8 million (US$204) in cash.
The attack occurred just hours after Regent T. Purnomo Sidik told 101 local ulema he intended to resign amid public pressure over his alleged involvement in the killings of Muslim clerics in East Java last year.
From early last year to November this year, over 200 Muslim clerics were killed by men clad in black ninja-style outfits.
Killing spree
Purnomo was linked to the killing spree following reports he circulated a list of 500 "black magic practitioners" who "needed protection from lynch mobs". However many clerics were killed, followed by mob killings of suspected 'ninjas.' Investigation into the murders is yet to progress while activists say police have not managed to arrest those responsible for the crimes.
Allegations of a high-level political conspiracy aimed at destroying the grassroots support of Abdurrahman Wahid's National Awakening Party (PKB) circulated following the still unsolved killings.
Banyuwangi, with a population of some 400,000 residents, is a base of the Nahdlatul Ulama, the largest Muslim organization led by Abdurrahman. The regency is situated 289 kilometers east of East Java's capital of Surabaya. Purnomo announced his resignation at Surabaya Police Headquarters.
"I have decided to resign based on security reasons and the safety of the people of Banyuwangi, especially ahead of the June 7 general election," he was quoted by Antara as saying.
"I told (the ulema that) I needed until May 10 to complete some unfinished work," he said, adding he still did not know if political elites were involved in last year's killing spree.
Last month Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid said the tenure of all governors, regents and mayors which concluded around the time of elections would be extended to July. (aan)