Source APC Newsgroup: act.indonesia
Source APC Newsgroup: act.indonesia
Written by: tapol@gn.apc.org
Date: 08 Nov 1998 06:08:55
Subject: Mob lynches 3 travelling businessmen amid Java killing spree
From: tapol@gn.apc.org (TAPOL)
Subject: Mob lynches 3 travelling businessmen amid Java killing spreeFrom Joyo:
Mob lynches three travelling businessmen amid Java killing spree
JAKARTA, Nov 8 (AFP) - Villagers in Indonesia's main island of Java killed
three out-of-town travellers whom they suspected were "ninja" assassins amid a
killing spree in the island which has claimed some 200 lives, a police
official said Sunday.The mob, in the Central Java provincial town of Pemalang, on Saturday pounced
on five businessmen refuelling their car. They dragged them out of the vehicle
and into their nearby village, killing three of them in a lynching which later
turned into a riot.Police in Tanjungsari village arrived too late to save the three, who worked
for the Leasing Credit Company of Indonesia's largest carmaker Astra
International. They took the other two Jakartans under their protection."There were thousands of out-of-control villagers. The three were dead when
the police arrived and the other two ran and asked for police protection,"
Pemalang police chief Lieutenant Colonel Isnarno (Eds: one name) told AFP.The villagers, insensed by the loss of the two potential victims, marched
towards the police station to release friends arrested in connection with the
lynching. They hurled rocks at shop windows and burnt a car along the way.A bigger riot was averted by the arrival of an elite police mobile brigade and
local troops, Isnarno said.On Friday night in Tegal, not far from Pemalang, villagers used gasoline to
set alight a man who was lost and could not answer their questions.More than 200 unsolved murders believed to have been committed by roving bands
of black-clad "ninja" killers have been reported in East Java and neighboring
provinces since the middle of the year.Some reports have said the deaths may be linked to conflict within the
country's political elite.The victims initially targetted were traditional Javanese warlocks but later
included Moslem teachers and scholars.In a grisly backlash angry vigilante mobs have attacked and killed suspected
ninjas, even in areas of West and Central Java where none of the mystery
murders has occurred.People found without identity documents or roaming the countryside after dark
have been burned, hanged or beaten to death.Villagers on the island of Madura, off East Java, last week killed three
detectives investigating a motorcycle theft because they thought they were
ninjas.Many victims have been people suffering from mental illness and unable to
explain why they were out alone at night. Police in Central Java have rounded
up some 200 mentally disturbed people to protect them from being attacked.+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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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