Witnesses of Ciamis killing spree threatened

JAKARTA (JP): The independent Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) said here on Thursday witnesses of the recent killing spree in Ciamis had been threatened by security personnel not to disclose details of the violence.

Kontras coordinator Munir said the threats began after reports of the killings were disclosed in Jakarta last week.

Police said 24 people were killed, but Munir said at least 57 people were killed in at least 24 villages in Ciamis regency, some 300 kilometers southeast of here, over the past five months.

"It is mainly relatives of the victims who have been threatened, their houses watched while a number of people riding motorcycles have also been riding back and forth in front of their homes," Munir said.

"Kontras has found locals now are afraid to speak out, while some of the witnesses who earlier expressed their willingness to testify are now tight-lipped," Munir said.

He also cited reports that an Army battalion had been deployed to the area.

"Locals say the deployment has created fear. If this is really true, the troops must be pulled out," Munir said.

He said the first killing took place in the village of Pager Gunung late last year and then spread to other villages, including Cigugur, Pangandaran, Pada Herang, Banjar Sari, Suka Hurip and Kersa Ratu.

Munir said most of the victims were accused of practicing black magic. He also repeated his earlier statement that the killings might have been organized.

West Java Police chief Maj. Gen. Chaerudin Ismail said last Wednesday security personnel might have been involved in the killings. He based this statement on the locals unwillingness to cooperate with the investigation.

He also said that up to 42 people had been detained for questioning.

Munir, who met with National Police chief Gen. Roesmanhadi last week to report the killings, lashed out at the police on Thursday, accusing them of dragging their feet in the investigation.

"The killings have been taking place for five months, but the motive of the attacks has yet to be explained by the police," Munir said.

"They reported the killings only months after they occurred. Then it was too late because too many lives had been wasted," Munir said.

It is still not clear whether the Ciamis killings are related to the unresolved violence in Banyuwangi and other towns in East Java. Nearly 200 Muslim clerics who were accused of practicing black magic were killed in East Java last September and October. (byg)