Release International
FEARS THAT INDONESIA THREE COULD BE EXECUTED TOMORROW (Sept 21) |
| Nov 07 2006 |
There is deep concern over reports that Indonesia may be going ahead tomorrow (Sept 21) with the execution of three Christians sentenced to death for inciting riots and murder - charges they deny.
Release International, which serves the persecuted church in 30 nations, believes the men are innocent and the executions would be a travesty of justice and could spark a new wave of violence in Sulawesi.
Reports from Indonesia say Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus da Silva and Marianus Riwu could face execution by firing squad on Thursday, or by Monday at the latest.
RI's CEO Andy Dipper says: 'Church sources in Indonesia say fresh evidence has emerged which would give the three an alibi. With such grave doubts over their conviction Indonesia must not act in haste and take the lives of these three men. The case for an appeal is just too strong to be ignored.'
The appeal process, which was expected to take up to a year, has been rapidly closed down in a month. That's despite mounting international pressure which has led three times to a stay of execution. Pope Benedict XVI made an appeal for clemency and the European Union has also called for the death sentence to be dropped.
The case has sparked demonstrations and counter-demonstrations across the country. A 4,000 strong rally by Muslims paralysed the city of Poso. Protestors with banners calling for the execution of the three Christians jammed the streets, forcing schools and transport to shut down.
Militants also made death threats against the defendants' legal representatives, and planted a bomb at the house of a legal advisor.
The three Christians are the only people to be charged following the Poso conflict, which spanned 1998 to 2003, in which many Muslims participated.
According to International Christian Concern some 10,000 Christians were killed in the attacks and 1,000 churches and 80,000 homes burned down. Observers believe the militants used Indonesian government munitions and fuel trucks, pointing to military involvement.
The defence case is that the three Christians were evacuating children under attack in a church school and were in no way responsible for the violence. Islamist militants went on to burn the school to the ground.
Human rights organisations insist the three were not given a fair trial; evidence pointing to their innocence was ignored and the trial was conducted against a backdrop of armed demonstrators yelling for their deaths outside the courthouse.
Jakarta removed the police chief who gave the three Christians a stay of execution and replaced him with a hard-liner who favours their deaths.
Defence lawyers say a good police officer was silenced. They are now 'very worried' about 'what could happen to inter-faith peace and harmony in Central Sulawesi'.
Release International's Andy Dipper says: 'If these executions do go ahead, there will be a widespread sense of outrage and injustice. The deaths of these three men could re-ignite further unrest and violence in Sulawesi.'
The governor has called a General Amnesty for those implicated in the violence. But that Amnesty excludes the only people to be charged following the years of bloodshed - the three Christians due to be executed tomorrow.
Go to all news on Indonesia