`Open' sorcerer blends magic and science

JAKARTA (JP): Upbeat sorcerer Ki Gendeng Pamungkas belongs to Indonesia's new breed of wizards who blend magic and science.

The man makes no secret of his "dark" business which has made him amazingly rich with a self-declared monthly income of up to Rp 60 million and businesses ranging from a car showroom to shrimp ponds.

His clients come from all walks of life: from newspaper boys and prostitutes to well-placed bureaucrats striving to secure their standard of living or positions.

Unlike other wizards or sorcerers who generally consider it taboo to talk about their activities in public, Ki Gendeng bares all to the press for publication, except certain information like his date of birth, the identity of some of his clients and how he performs the sorcery.

In an informal gathering with journalists at the Jakarta Jakarta magazine yesterday, the man from East Java admitted to killing 734 people and disabling more than 500 others since he made his debut in 1978.

The fees he obtains from clients have rocketed from Rp 500,000 (US$180) in 1978 to several "billion" at present. He said that since diversifying his business in 1985, he has been selective about targets.

"I don't want to trigger political chaos," said Ki Gendeng, who studied his magic skills not only across Indonesia but in other countries like Haiti and India.

He focuses not only on so-called black magic, but also practices "white" magic for healing and "gray" magic, a combination of black and white for "positive purposes."

Ki Gendeng calls his sorcery method "teleco-physicho kinetics", which relies on mental concentration and the help of a devil he says is always with him.

His clients are not only Indonesians but foreigners as well who ask for his help through letters sent by fax, in which the target person's date of birth and photographs are provided.

"There is no physical barrier to sorcery", he said.

But something does worry him: A controversial government- sponsored bill which threatens sorcerers with hefty jail terms.

Criminologist Tubagus Roni said the bill contains major flaws concerning sorcery. "Sorcery cannot be proved scientifically and law enforcers will have difficulty proving whether the suspect is guilty or not. (pan)