AsiaNews, 1 April, 2006
Execution of three Catholics postponed amid Jakarta rallies
by Benteng Reges
The office of the State Attorney General said the decision was taken because
"important papers" were missing. For Indonesians, this means "there were specific
orders from above". Sit-ins for the three Catholics are multiplying in the capital and in
Sulawesi.
Jakarta (AsiaNews) – The execution of Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus "Domi" da Silva
and Marinus Riwu, three Indonesian Catholics condemned to death for their role in
violence that rocked Poso in 2000, has been postponed. This was announced by the
office of the State Attorney General, which also confirmed that the execution had
been secretly fixed for today, 1 April.
Masyudi Ridwan, office spokesman, said the delay was due to the lack of "important
papers": for Indonesians, this phrase means that the decision was taken because of
"orders from above". Ridwan did not want to comment about the new date set.
Brigadier General Oegroseno, head of the central Sulawesi police, said the execution
should take place "in the coming days", but he refused to comment about the
postponement.
M Jahja Sibe SH, Attorney General chief in Sulawesi – that has the authority to
decide about the execution – said a few days ago that "everything was prepared for
the execution" and he even said a "special uniform" had been made for the three
condemned men. The site chosen for the execution was a remote area on the
outskirts of Palu.
So it seems the strong protests of PADMA, the group of lawyers defending the three
Catholics, have paid off, as have ever increasing calls from the Indonesian population
that the case be reopened. Today itself, a demonstration on the streets of Jakarta
drew hundreds of people. The organizers – the National Alliance for the Freedom of
Tibo and Friends – said the rally "challenged the decision of the government, which
should guarantee a just and fair trial to each and every Indonesian". The protesters
marched with placards reading "Free them"; "Their lives are in the hands of President
Susilo" and "Discover the true culprits and release the innocent".
Speaking outside the State Palace, Stephen Roy Rening – lawyer and coordinator of
PADMA – said the alliance "is ready to present the case before the International
Court of Justice if the government does not listen to our requests". He added: "This is
a matter of humanity. We have discovered this trial was unjust and we are asking
President Susilo to overturn the execution order and to give the three Catholics back
their freedom".
Rening urged the Attorney General to "give due weight to the statements of important
eye witnesses, who have testified more than once in favour of the three men".
In the coming days, a demonstration is also planned in Tentena, a city in Sulawesi
with the Christian majority. Participants will call for a "new and fair trial for the three
condemned men".
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