'No political motives' in Malang killings

'No political motives' in Malang killings

SURABAYA, East Java (JP): Chief of Brawijaya Military Command
Maj. Gen. Sudi Silalahi denied on Wednesday there were political
motives behind the recent killing spree in Malang, East Java.

"They were spontaneous actions, and we have not yet found any
indications of political motives," Silalahi said.

He dismissed allegations the security forces were too slow in
dealing with the murders, saying they had tried to prevent the
incidents from spreading about the town.

"Since the beginning we have been on alert. We learnt from the
Banyuwangi killings," he said, referring to the string of murders
in the province's eastern tip last year.

Six people have been killed over the past two weeks by unknown
murderers in Malang, some 90 kms south of Surabaya.

The most recent victim was a Koran teacher named Munakib. He
was killed last Thursday by a group of masked men in ninja
outfits at his house in the village of Pitrang.

Chief of Malang Police Lt. Col. Harry Prastowo earlier said
the killings might have a similar motive to those that took place
in Banyuwangi.

The killings in Bayuwangi, some 290 kms southwest of Surabaya,
began in September last year. At least 150 people were killed in
six regencies. The killers, mostly ninja-garbed, initially
targeted people suspected of practicing black magic, however,
Muslim preachers and teachers later became victims.

Prastowo said 21 people had been arrested for their alleged
involvement in the Malang killings.

Prastowo told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday three of the
detainees were strongly suspected as being the instigators of the
crimes. He identified them as Muksar, Mohirirun and Martono, from
Pohjejer, Krajan and Pitrang villages respectively in the
district of Kalipare.

Prastowo said the other 18 suspects claimed to know nothing
about the reasons behind the killings. "They simply received an
order and were paid between Rp 100,000 and Rp 1 million," he
said.

The police have identified more suspects and are hunting them
down, according to Prastowo.

He quoted the three alleged provocateurs as saying that they
were proud that people were killed in a sadistic way. "They
insist that the victims were all black magic practitioners,
unwanted by many people. We found lists of future targets in
their pockets," Prastowo said.

Meanwhile, East Java Governor Imam Utomo said he had
instructed all regents, especially those which are vulnerable to
crimes -- including Banyuwangi, Situbondo, Jember, Bondowoso,
Lumajang and Pasuruan -- to raise the alert level following the
murder spree.

Imam did not rule out speculation that the Malang violence was
linked with the Banyuwangi incidents. Imam shared Silalahi's view
that there were no political motives behind the latest series of
murders here. (nur/sur)