squad for their alleged involvement in attacks against Muslims, charges they and even Muslim witnesses have strongly denied.
Lawyers for Fabianus Tibo, Marianus Riwu and Dominggus Silva said the men would face the firing squad in Central Sulawesi on Thursday, September 12, but a priest reportedly said the date was set for early Friday, September 22.
Eyewitnesses said security is tight in the religiously divided province amid fears the executions will spark renewed violence. The priest, Reverend Jimmy Tumbelaka, said after meeting the three men at their prison in Palu: "They are mentally ready to face the firing squad".
PRAYERS URGED
In a statement to BosNewsLife, Julibee Campaign, an international human rights group, said it had urged its supporters to pray for the men who it believes were sentenced based on shaky evidence.
Tibo’s son Robert said he did not think there was anything more they could do for the men. "I just came today for my father. I hope the last prayers will help him." At least 4,000 extra troops were reportedly deployed in Central Sulawesi, and reinforcements are being drafted in as tensions rise ahead of the executions.
The men say they are innocent of the charges that they masterminded a series of attacks on the Muslim community in the Central Sulawesi district of Poso in 2000, killing at least 70 people. Several witnesses during the trial, including Muslims, said the three Christians were involved in humanitarian aid.
The men’s execution was delayed in mid-August after a plea for clemency from Pope Benedict XVI and demonstrations by thousands of Indonesian Christians. Pope Benedict had called on Indonesia to stop the imminent execution, as thousands of Indonesians held a prayer vigil in opposition to the death sentences.
VATICAN CONCERNED
Vatican Secretary of State Angelo Sodano said on behalf of the Pope that clemency should be granted “on humanitarian grounds” for the three men who were found guilty of leading a Christian mob in an attack which killed more than 200 people during Muslim-Christian clashes in the province’s Poso region.
"In the name of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, I turn to you again … in order that an act of clemency might be granted to these three Catholic citizens of your nation," stated a letter addressed to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. In addition, thousands of Christians held a rally in the Poso town of Tentena to oppose the execution, news reports said.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide has urged 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 and 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," explained CSW Advocacy Director Tina Lambert. (With BosNewsLife Special Correspondent Eric Leijenaar).
