would be executed. Human rights group Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) said Indonesia’s attorney general has informed families that Fabianus Tibo, 60, Dominggus da Silva, 39, and Marinus Riwu, 48, will be executed Saturday, August 12, on charges of involvement in religious clashes.
The three men allegedly masterminded sectarian violence in Central Sulawesi and were accused of leading an attack against an Islamic school in 2000. Despite what several human rights groups called "shaky evidence", all three men were sentenced to death.
Even Muslim witnesses, "spoke out in their defense and both Muslim and Christian leaders have called for the stay of execution and re-trial," added CSW in a statement to BosNewsLife.
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
"We urge the international community to act immediately to stop the execution of these three men. There is substantial evidence to support calls for a re-trial…" said CSW Advocacy Director, Tina Lambert.
A judicial review panel was set up by the Supreme Court due to "substantial evidence" to support calls for a re-trial and after pressure from local and national human rights groups.
However, on May 9, 2006, the review panel of five judges upheld the verdict. A final appeal for clemency was reportedly rejected by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
CSW linked the rejection of clemency to growing pressure on Christians in Indonesia. "At a time where relations between different faith communities are tense; we fear these executions will be exploited by those wanting to antagonize the situation," Lambert said.
GIRLS BEHEADED
Over the last two years, the Christian community in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim nation, has faced attacks by militants in the region, including the beheading of three Christian girls in October last year.
Although security officials have arrested militants responsible for anti-Christian violence in recent months, some leaders remain at large. Reverend Rinaldy Damanik, Head of the Protestant Church in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, speaking on behalf of Fabianus Tibo’s family, questioned the authorities’ sincerity in dealing with attacks against Christians.
In remarks published by CSW, he cited a massacre of 200 Christians where "not one person was ever arrested, charged or imprisoned, let alone be executed for this heinous crime". He wondered why the proposed "general amnesty" for those condemned in this case "has not been applied to the three men." (With BosNewsLife Research and reports from Indonesia).
