International Herald Tribune, Thursday, September 21, 2006
EU assails Jakarta on executions
By Raymond Bonner The New York Times
JAKARTA With three Christians scheduled to be executed by firing squad here on
Friday in connection with communal violence, and three Muslims facing imminent
execution for their role in the 2002 Bali bombings, the European Union has called on
Indonesia to declare a moratorium on the death penalty, European diplomats and
Indonesian officials said Thursday.
"The European Union, along with many other like-minded countries, opposes the use
of the death penalty in all circumstances," the Finnish Ambassador, Markko Niinioga,
representing the presidency of the EU, said in a letter that was delivered Wednesday
to the Indonesian president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. "The EU finds this
punishment cruel and inhuman."
The letter was read to The New York Times by a European diplomat, who did so on
the conditi! on of anonymity because the letter has not been released publicly. An
aide to Yudhoyono confirmed that it had been received.
Yudhoyono is considered a leading contender for the Nobel Peace Prize, because of
his work in bringing about an end to the separatist war in the westernmost province of
Aceh, and European diplomats said that the executions could hurt his chances, given
the strong anti-death penalty sentiments among European governments.
A senior Indonesian government official, who was granted anonymity in order to learn
the government's response, said that it was almost certain that the executions of the
Christians, two mechanics and a farmer, would take place.
"We're going to execute the Bali bombers soon after," he added, by way of
explanation. In this overwhelmingly Muslim country, the government considers that
the risk of political protests would be too great if it executed the Bali bombers and not
the Christians.
The three men were scheduled to be executed in early August, but the deaths were
postponed following an appeal by Pope Benedict XVI. After that, the scheduled
execution of the Bali bombers was also postponed, and with Ramadan beginning on
Sunday, it will be at least a month before it is rescheduled.
The condemned are Fabianus Tibo, 60, Marinus Riwu, 48, and Dominggus da Silva,
42.
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