The Jakarta Post, March 22, 2006
Poso death row inmates plead innocence to Pope
Kornelius Purba, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Three Catholic convicts on death row for a religiously motivated attacks on Muslims in
Poso, Central Sulawesi, have assured Pope Benedict XVI of their innocence.
Fabianus Tibo, 60, Dominggus da Silva, 39, and Marinus Riwu, 48, are convicted of
masterminding a massacre of tens of Muslims in 2000 during the height of sectarian
conflict in the region.
In an emotional meeting with papal envoy Bishop Josef Suwatan, convict Fabianus
asked the bishop from the Manado diocese to tell the Pope he had no blood on his
hands.
"My friends are not guilty either. Please convey this to the Holy Father," Fabianus told
the bishop.
During the meeting, Josef conveyed the Papal message to the three convicts, "I am
with you."
"It is a very strong message," Josef said.
The Pope sent Josef as his personal envoy to meet the three convicts, deliver rosaries
and crosses and a personal message.
Speaking to The Jakarta Post on Tuesday, Josef stressed the Holy See did not intend
to interfere in Indonesia's legal system. The pope's mission to the prison was purely
humanitarian, he said.
However, Josef also said "the Pope heard there are people who have testified that the
charges against (the three men) are false."
In the Palu District Court found the three men guilty of killing Muslims in attacks
between May 23 and June 2000.
However, after the trial, rights groups expressed doubt that the three were responsible
for the crimes. The men later lodged an appeal with Supreme Court, which refused to
hear their case. A plea to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in November for
clemency was also rejected.
This year, lawyers supporting the men produced testimonies from the attack survivors,
which indicated the three were not involved in the attacks. They also gave police a list
of people they said were the true culprits.
This is the second time Pope Benedict XVI has sent a special envoy to Poso. The
Pope also sent a written message to the families of three senior high school students
killed in terror attacks on Oct. 29 last year. The Pope told the families of his sorrow
and said he had prayed for the three girls and their families, and for peace in Poso.
"The Pope paid attention to them not just because they are Catholics. It is a
humanitarian matter," Josef said.
Attorney General Abdul Rahman Saleh said last month the three convicts would soon
be executed.
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