1998 East Java ninja scare

The 1998 East Java ninja scare was an outbreak of mass hysteria in East Java, Indonesia, in which the local population believed they were being targeted by sorcerers. In response, unidentified vigilantes, known as ninja, killed a number of suspected sorcerers, including religious leaders. As many as 150-300 “sorcerers” were killed between February and October, with the most deaths occurring between August and September. In response to these killings, other Indonesians attacked and killed suspected ninjas.

According to the National Commission on Human Rights, 307 people were killed during the scare in total: 194 people in Banyuwangi, 108 in Jember, and seven in Malang.

Background

According to Jason Brown, Banyuwangi is a centre of belief in black magic in Indonesia. Black magic practiced in Banyuwangi is a mix of animist beliefs and Islamic mysticism which developed from inter-religious conflict during the 16th century Mataram court period. Belief in black magic, or dukun santet, is widespread in the area. Suspected sorcerers were also killed in Indonesia in 1965.

Indonesia saw other political and economic tensions during 1998, including the May riots and the resignation of President Suharto.

Events

In early 1998, residents in Kaligondo, Banyuwangi Regency became concerned with sorcery after multiple cattle became sick and died. Local resident Soemarno Adi was suspected, and was lynched on 4 February. His death sparked a number of other killings by vigilante groups. Some vigilantes dressed in all black, leading to them being called ninjas. Most victims were ordinary civilians, local leaders, or clerics affiliated with Nahdlatul Ulama.

Local people began to hunt down and kill anyone who they believed to be ‘ninjas’ in response. About five people were killed between February and July. In the month of August, 40 people were killed, and in September the number rose to 80.

On 18 October 1998, five men were killed in the Turen area. One was beaten to death, one was burned and three were beheaded. On 20 October 1998, three killings occurred. Two had been seized from a police car by vigilantes who reportedly slit their throats; the third man was beheaded and his head paraded around on a stake.

On 24 October at Gondanglegi, Malang Regency, another five suspected ninjas were killed by villagers. One victim was burnt to death while another one was beheaded. On 31 October and 1 November, three policemen were killed in Madura after being suspected to be ninjas. On 31 October, one man in north Jakarta was attacked on suspicions of being a ninja, marking the first time the scare had impacted Jakarta.

Local press reports

On 1 October 1998, the Surabaya Post reported “a rumour about the existence of attacks by ninja-like squads” that were targeting "community leaders as well as ulama". In response, the neighbors of ulamas began organizing guard shifts "around the houses of ulamas who have become targets". On 4 October 1998, the Jawa Pos reported that "prayer teachers are in the sights of groups of dozens of killers who wear all-black clothes and masks like ninjas".

Theories

There have been a number of theories regarding who was behind killings.

Some have argued that the killings were encouraged covertly by the military in an effort to destabilize the new Indonesian government, or to weaken Nahdlatul Ulama or the emerging Islamic the National Awakening Party. Nahdlatul Ulama has claimed that security forces were involved. The National Commission on Human Rights concluded in 2018 that the murders were "conducted by 'trained' and 'organized' assailants, and that national security forces enabled the killings by not intervening until September 1998.

Impacts

The killings sparked discussion on the legal regulation of sorcery, to discourage individuals from "taking the law into their own hands".

Further reading

• Herriman, Nicholas (2016). Witch-hunt and conspiracy: the 'ninja case' in East Java. Singapore: NUS Press. ISBN 978-981-4722-33-9.