Source APC Newsgroup: act.indonesia
Source APC Newsgroup: act.indonesia
Written by: tapol@gn.apc.org
Date: 08 Nov 1998 06:06:24
Subject: ST: 3 'ninjas' killed, riot erupts in Central Java
From: tapol@gn.apc.org (TAPOL)
Subject: ST: 3 'ninjas' killed, riot erupts in Central JavaFrom Joyo:
Straits Times Nov 8 1998
3 'ninjas' killed, riot erupts in Central JavaThousands loot shops after police refused to hand over two more suspects. One
rioter was shot dead.
Army promises to investigate claims that deserters from the feared Kopassus
special forces were behind the killings.JAKARTA -- Three Indonesians suspected of being involved in a series of grisly
murders were killed by a mob in Central Java yesterday, and thousands rioted
as police refused to hand over two more. One rioter was shot dead by police,
witnesses said.President B.J. Habibie has vowed to take stern action against the violence
while the local police chief declined to comment.The riot broke out after a mob attacked a minivan in the Central Java town of
Pemalang, 350 km east of Jakarta. They believed the five men in the van were
some of the ninja-style killers who have murdered at least 140 people in
Indonesia in recent months, residents said.The mob set the van ablaze and beat to death three of its occupants before
security forces rescued the other two. Crowds then attacked the police
station, demanding that the men be handed over. When police refused, the mob
began looting shops and damaging police posts. Witnesses put the number of
rioters at "several thousand".In a speech to a Muslim gathering, Dr Habibie said: "The government has and
will continue to take stern action against any form of threats, terror and
violence which threatens the safety and property of the people. I have asked
security officials in the region to increase vigilance in facing any threats
that disturb life in society."The killing spree began in the town of Banyuwangi, East Java, but the murders
later spread to other areas of Java. Most of the victims have been alleged
practitioners of black magic or Muslim clerics. Locals spoke of black-clad
assailants moving through towns and villages at night, knocking on the doors
of victims, calling them out and killing them. Victims were often chopped
into pieces and tied into bundles which were then dangled from trees or
thrown into mosques.The killings have sparked a wave of reprisals with mobs lynching people
suspected of being "ninjas". Some of those lynched have been mentally ill, and
some reports say people have been rounding up the mentally ill and dumping
them in unfamiliar towns to feed the hysteria.The Jakarta Post reported yesterday that five people had been lynched in
Central Java recently, and at least three of whom were mentally ill. "This has
gone too far," said Jepara police precinct chief Lieutenant-Colonel Monang
Manulang. "People do need to secure their villages, but killing mentally-ill
people?" The Suara Pembaruan newspaper reported that Central Java police had
taken 200 mentally-disturbed people into custody for their own safety.No motive for the wave of murders has emerged, with police and the military
variously blaming criminals, communists and rogue members of the armed forces.Observers said the killings are part of a conspiracy. Opposition figurehead
Amien Rais said last week that he believed former President Suharto could be
involved. The army has also promised to investigate claims that deserters
from the feared Kopassus special forces were behind the killings. - Reuters, AFP+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign
111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath,
Surrey CR7 8HW, UK
Phone: 0181 771-2904 Fax: 0181 653-0322
email: tapol@gn.apc.org
Campaigning to expose human rights violations in
Indonesia, East Timor, West Papua and AcehJoin us to celebrate TAPOL's 25th anniversary on
20 October 1998. Contact us for ticket details.
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