1998 East Java ninja scare: Difference between revisions

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==Background==
 
According to Jason Brown, [[Banyuwangi Regency|Banyuwangi]] is a centre of belief in black magic in Indonesia.<ref name=":4" /> Black magic practiced in Banyuwangi ismay be a mix of [[animist]] beliefs and [[Islamic mysticism]] which developed from inter-religious conflict during the 16th century Mataram court period.<ref name=":4" /> Belief in black magic, or [[Dukun|dukun santet]], is widespread in the area.<ref name=":4">{{cite web |last=Brown |first=Jason |date=200030 July 2007 |title=The Banyuwangi murders |url=http://www.insideindonesia.org/the-banyuwangi-murders |website=Inside Indonesia}}</ref> Suspected sorcerers were also killed in Indonesia in 1965.<ref name=":2" />
 
Indonesia saw other political and economic tensions during 1998, including the [[May 1998 riots of Indonesia|May riots]] and the [[Fall of Suharto|resignation]] of President [[Suharto]].<ref name=":2" />
 
==Events==
In early 1998, residents in Kaligondo, Banyuwangi Regency became concerned with sorcery after multiple cattle became sick and died.<ref name=":2" /> Local resident Soemarno Adi was suspected and was lynched on 4 February.<ref name=":2" /> His death sparked a number of other killings by vigilante groups.<ref name=":2" /> Some vigilantes dressed in all black, leading to them being called ninjas.<ref name=":2" /> Most victims were ordinary civilians, local leaders, or clerics affiliated with [[Nahdlatul Ulama]].<ref name=":2" />
 
In response, communities targeted by the sorcerer killings began to attack and kill suspected ninjas, many of whom were people out after dark or without identity documents. The killing of suspected ninja spread to [[Central Java|Central]] and [[West Java]], although no killings by suspected ninja had been reported in those regions. By November, police in Central Java had detained around 200 mentally ill people, as they were at risk of being attacked if they were out at night and unable to explain themselves.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1998-11-08 |title=Businessmen lynched by Central Java mob |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-kkdAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22east+java%22+ninja&pg=PA24&article_id=5073,2428743 |work=The Nation |agency=[[Agence France-Presse]]}}</ref>