No death penalty for Poso three, say international groups, Indonesian Catholics
Last weekend police announced the imminent execution of Tibo and his companions. The Catholic community of the world's largest Muslim country has added its voice to international campaigns on their behalf.
Jakarta (AsiaNews) The police of Palu, Central Sulawesi, last weekend announced the "imminent" execution of three Indonesian Catholics condemned to death for their alleged role in inter-faith clashes in Poso. The three men claim they know who those truly responsible for the violence are, but they have gone unheeded. Now they may be executed before the month is out, despite international lobbying on their behalf. A campaign to save them and to see justice done is now also gathering ground among Indonesian Catholics.
Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus da Silva and Marinus Riwu were condemned to death in 2002 for fomenting violence which exploded between Christians and Muslims in 2000 and 2001. Last November, the Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono turned down their appeal for clemency; soon after the Attorney Genera's Office declared that the three men would be executed "soon". Since then, local church representatives and human rights activists have been calling for the overturning of the sentence, held to be "unjust", not least because of the pressure exerted on the court by fundamentalist Muslims.
Slowly but surely, Indonesian Catholics are responding to appeals from human rights groups defending Tibo and his companions. The bishop of Manado, Mgr Joseph Suwatan, has encouraged involvement. Last December, he sent a letter to the country's highest authorities, including Susilo. The letter, sent together with two other religious figures of Sulawesi, a Muslim and a Protestant, requested that the case of the three men be placed "in the framework of the wider and complex matter of the conflicts in Poso". The religious leaders said Tibo and the others had been "used a sacrificial lambs" by provocateurs who have not been identified as yet. Thus, executing their capital punishment would "only serve to lose key witnesses", who could clarify what really happened.
National mobilization is spearheaded by lawyers from different religions gathered in a group called Centre of Advocacy Service for Justice and Peace in Indonesia, better known as PADMA. The group has already given police the names of 30 people who are willing to testify in favour of the three Catholics.
S Roy Rering, the group coordinator, said other lawyers have officially called for a review of the case. "Together, we sent a letter to the Supreme Court through the Palu tribunal," he said. "The law provides for this possiblity given that there are new witnesses."
Support is also at hand from the Charity for Humanity Group (KBKK), chaired by Irene Setiadi. The woman is a doctor in the parish of St. Jacob Kelapa Gading in east Jakarta. As a human rights activist, she has been involved in aid missions alongside the Indonesian Jesuits. Recently, Irene appealed to thousands of alumni of Jakarta's St Ursula High School to offer moral support to the three men condemned to death, through letters and messages. She also urged them to give donations to fund the legal battle of PADMA. Tibo officially requested PADMA's help on 13 January.
Catholics forums and mailing lists have started to discuss the case.
Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world: more than 88% of the population (240 million) is Muslim.
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21/09/2006
