Release International

A 4,000 strong demonstration has paralysed the city of Poso, as Muslims rallied to demand the immediate execution of three Christians.

Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus da Silva and Marinus Riwu have been sentenced to death for allegedly inciting riots in 2000 and killing Muslims -- charges they deny.

Their execution has been postponed three times, partly due to international pressure. But Muslim protestors with banners calling for their execution jammed the streets, forcing schools and transport to shut down.

Meanwhile Jakarta has removed the police chief who gave the three Christians a stay of execution and replaced him with a hard-liner who favours their deaths.

Lawyers for the three Christians say a good police officer has been silenced. They're now 'very worried' about the fate of the three and 'what could happen to inter-faith peace and harmony in Central Sulawesi.'

Other observers fear the Christians could be executed in secret by firing squad, presenting the international community with a fait accomplis.

There has been strong international pressure to save them -- including from the Pope and the European Union. Observers say they were not given a fair trial, that evidence pointing to their innocence has been ignored and the trial was conducted against a backdrop of armed demonstrators yelling for their deaths outside the courthouse.

Militants also made death threats against their legal representatives, and planted a bomb at the house of one legal advisor.

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. Militants burnt the school to the ground. No Muslims have been brought to justice.

According to Jeff King, President of International Christian Concern: 'In the attacks from 1998 to 2003, there were approximately 10,000 Christians murdered, 1,000 churches and 80,000 homes burned down. In that orgy of violence against Christians, the only individuals the government chose to convict were these three Christians -- this is a glaring injustice.'

• Pray for the lives of the Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus da Silva and Marinus Riwu - that the death sentence will be dropped -- not merely postponed.
• Pray that the Indonesian government will stand up for justice for Christians as well as Muslims, and will act to stop the violent attacks against its Christian minority.
• Pray that the Lord will strengthen and support the three accused and their families.

Back to top