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Child `healer' Ponari reopens practice

Indra Harsaputra , THE JAKARTA POST , Surabaya | Fri, 03/13/2009 2:54 PM | National The family of so-called child "healer" Ponari of Jombang has decided to reopen the controversial practice because of the economic benefits to other families in the neighborhood, a lawyer said Thursday. "Ponari's family thinks the healing practice, which drew thousands of patients a day, contributed to the improved economic condition in the neighborhood. So it's unlikely they want to close the practice," Ponari's lawyer Achmad Rifai told The Jakarta Post. Police closed down the practice last month due to mounting public pressure, including from the National Commission on Child Protection, which called for the boy to be put back in school. Jombang Police chief Adj. Snr. Comr. Tomsi Tohir said earlier the practice was closed down upon the request of Ponari's family, who claimed they regretted their son could not go to school because of the practice. The closure, hundreds of residents of Balongsari village, who jumped on the bandwagon to exploit the hype surrounding the boy and his mysterious stone that could cure any ailment, found themselves without a cash cow. The neighborhood raked in millions of rupiah from food stalls, guest houses for patients and parking services for visitors to the village. The residents hired a lawyer to help them to reopen the healing practice. Achmad denied claims that Ponari's family had asked the police to close the practice. "We have informed the Jombang Police and East Java Police that we will reopen the practice on Saturday. Even if they forbid it, we'll still do it. The police's duty is to maintain security," said the man looking to endanger that very security. Achmad said the deaths of four patients who died while queuing to be "healed" had nothing to do with Ponari. "It's not Ponari's fault, so it's no reason for the police to close down the practice," he said. But he added the family had promised to limit the hours for the practice, to allow Ponari time to go to school and play with his friends, as demanded by the children's commission. Suparlik, Ponari's teacher at state elementary school SDN Balongsari 1, said he doubted the 9-year-old would be able to focus on his studies if he was forced to continue with the practice. "Ponari won't be able to learn because he won't have much time, with having to serve thousands of patients," he said. The practice has earned the family much money, with Ponari himself now flaunting a cell phone. Ponari became famous after allegedly finding a stone that could heal all kind of diseases. He reportedly found it during a heavy thunderstorm, and threw it away three times, but it always returned to him. Ponari allegedly healed his patients by dipping the stone into water - from gutters, rain or any other source - then asking patients to drink the water. No patients have yet testified that they recovered from their illness because of this so-called treatment.

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