Paras Indonesia, August, 14 2006 @ 02:32 pm
Dead Men (Still) Walking: The 11th Hour Decision In Poso
By: Lian Gogali
The last minutes prior to the government's decision to postpone the execution of the
three Poso men were nerve wrecking. An hour before the decision was made,
Robertus, the son of death row convict Fabianus Tibo, received a call from the court,
telling him they were still uncertain of the plan. Robertus and the Tibo family were
however convinced that the execution on August 12 was not going to happen despite
the official court letter they had received earlier in the week.
At the same time, thousands of Tibo supporters in Indonesian cities (Maumere,
Manado and Jakarta) held prayers and peaceful protests. In Tentena, where the Tibo
family resides, thousands gathered in the town's market (a bomb site last year) and
together sought for the divine intervention. Earlier on that day, protestors stormed the
Tentena district court and held hostage three court officers. The group calls itself the
People's Solidarity Against Death Penalty (SMAHT). The court take over was a
symbol to seize back the law to the people. They viewed justice has died for the sake
of political interests.
The announcement on the delay of the execution was greeted by cheers, applauds,
tears and gratefulness by the gatherers in Tentena. It was as seemed their lives were
also saved. But for the SMAHT supporters, the last second announcement showed
how the government was eager to play god. Police Chief Gen. Sutanto cited security
concerns if the execution was to go ahead before the August 17 Independence Day.
Despite the government's denial, the excuse was indeed a political one. The legal
proceeding of Fabianus Tibo, Marinus Riwu and Dominggus da Silva was flawed from
the beginning. It was more like street justice where various interests crossed with
each other to sent them to the firing squad. The government blamed the three
uneducated men for masterminding of the massacre in the Muslim village
Sintuwulembah.
The execution of the three men would only serve to foster the atmosphere of hostility
between the two biggest religious groups in Poso. It would certainly break the
resistance of the people of both religions against the relationship between the capitals
(particularly concerning the Bukaka Group company owned by Ahmad Kalla, brother
of Indonesia's Vice President) with the military. The decision to initially execute the
three was part of a political deal using the excuse of justice to the Poso conflict
victims while bowing to the power of money. Throughout the legal proceedings, Tibo
and friends had been intimidated physically and mentally. While Bali bombers Amrozi
and friends were proud to be sentenced to death because they truly believed what
they did was a jihad, Tibo, Marinus and Dominggus not only were confused why they
were sentenced to death but also condoned taking the lives of human beings.
The right to live is a human right. That is why no human being should have the right to
kill anyone (including for legal purpose). The court is no God and therefore has no
jurisdiction to decide who lives and who dies. One of the campaigners for the killing of
the three men is Vice President Jusuf Kalla. He said it has to be done to respect the
law. Are we sure of that?
A widow (46) who had lost 50 family members from the Sintuwulembah massacre told
me, "In fact, don't execute Tibo and friends just yet. We have to find out who the
actual masterminds were before deciding what to do next. It was probably done by
smart people."
The execution delay is no solution. It must be cancelled. A delay would just make the
waiting more painful. Death is still waiting.
Copyright (c) 2005 - PT Laksamana Global International. All rights reserved
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