Friday, November 17, 2006

Fugitive surrenders in Poso

National News - November 16, 2006
Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Palu

One of 29 people wanted by police for suspected involvement in anti-Christian attacks in Poso and Palu, Central Sulawesi, has surrendered, a police spokesman said Wednesday.

Andi Ilalu, alias Andi Bocor, 38, voluntarily surrendered to a local leader Tuesday afternoon. The resident of Mapane, Poso Pesisir district, was flown to the provincial capital Palu for questioning by the police anti-terror detachment.

Central Sulawesi Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Muhammad Kilat confirmed Andi had surrendered. "He went to see a leader in Mapane, who then took him to the Poso Police office," he told The Jakarta Post.

He said preliminary investigations indicated that Andi was possibly connected to the 2003 murder of Kasrin Ladidin in Landangan, Poso Pesisir.

A second deadline for suspects to surrender ended Tuesday, leaving 28 people still at large.

The second deadline was given after the first one, from Nov. 1 to Nov. 7, failed to achieve results. This may have been because the suspects' relatives refused to assist in the police investigation, fearing their relatives would be tortured.

"We will only hand over our family members if the police promise not to harm them," said Yunus Gafur, the grandfather of two suspects.

National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Anton Bahrul Alam said earlier the 29 suspects, all civilians, were believed to be involved in a range of violent acts.

Meanwhile, 15 other militants, belonging to the Tanah Runtuh and Kayamanya Muslim groups from the town of Gebang Rejo, were recently arrested. They are considered suspects in a series of attacks, beginning in 2001, that targeted Christians in Central Sulawesi, the National Police spokesman said.

The Tanah Runtuh group has been accused of involvement in several murders in Poso since 2001, including the 2005 beheading of three Christian school students and the shooting of a Christian minister in Palu last month, AFP reported.

The second group has been accused of robbery and inciting mob violence by raising religious issues and spreading hatred against the police.

Anton said with the passing of the second deadline, the police were left with two choices; to continue trying to persuade the suspects to turn themselves in voluntarily, or to be more active in searching for them.

If the persuasive method fails again, the police will not be afraid to find and arrest the suspects, but he promised there would no violence or abuse toward them.

"We'll protect their rights. That's why they will be accompanied by their lawyers and the police will be under the supervision of the National Police during any interrogation," Anton said.

He said that based on intelligence reports, the suspects were still in Poso and the police would guard the city's entrances and exits to stop them from leaving. The police would also cooperate with police from neighboring countries to prevent them from escaping abroad.

"But I'm sure they will not be able to get out of Poso, let alone escape to other countries. They're all still in Poso so it's better for them to surrender to the police," Anton reiterated.

Thursday, November 02, 2006

Police seek 29 people for involvement in Poso terrorism

Ruslan Sangadji
The Jakarta Post
Palu

The Central Sulawesi Police are hunting at least 29 people believed to have been involved a series of violence acts in Poso and Palu.

National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Anton Bahrul Alam said Tuesday the 29 suspects were believed to be involved in bombings, killings and other violence. All were civilians, Anton said.

Fifteen other people have recently been arrested for a series of attacks since 2001, mainly for targeting Christians in Central Sulawesi, he said.

The 15 belonged to the Karamanya and Tanah Runtuh Muslim miltant groups that live in the town of Gebang Rejo, Anton said.

That town was earlier the scene of a police raid last week, when a Muslim man was shot dead after a gun battle with officers.

Naming the men, he said seven of them belong to the Tanah Runtuh group: Hasanuddin, Abdul Haris, Irwanto Iriano, Ponirin alias Andi Ipong, Yusuf Asapa, Rahmat and Sudirman alias Opo. The other eight belonged to Kayamanya: Fadli Barsalim alias Opo, Yusman Said alias Budi, Syakur, Farid Maruf, Yusman Sahad, Iswandi Maraf, Rusli Tawil and Ifet.

"The suspects are believed to have been involved in a series of violent acts from 2001 to 2006. They are now being intensively questioned at the National Police Headquarters and the Central Sulawesi Police precinct," Bahrul Alam said.

The group were suspected of involvement in 13 attacks including last year's beheadings of three Christian schoolgirls in Poso and the murder of a woman minister and a prosecutor in 2004.

Bahrul Alam said the police had also confiscated evidence from the suspects in the forms of M-16 rifles, pistols and homemade bombs.

The naming of the suspects did not disrupt activities in the town, with government offices, markets and other shopping centers remaining peaceful, despite media reports in Jakarta that said the town was "paralyzed" after the announcement.

"Who said Poso was paralyzed? That is baseless. The (media) should not just look for sensationalism," Poso Regent Piet Inkiriwang said.

Patrice, 32, a Christian working alongside Muslims in one of Poso's market areas, welcomed the arrests.

"We don't want to be involved in enmity. We're all brothers and sisters here (apart) from the terrorists ... We want peace," said the mother of two.

Thursday, October 12, 2006

Poso 'does not need security operation'

PALU, Central Sulawesi: The religiously split Palu regency will not reinstate the security operation command (Koopskam) despite violence that followed the execution of three Christians on Sept. 22, the Central Sulawesi governor says.

Governor Bandjela Paliudju said local security forces were capable of handling the situation in Poso, which for some years was the scene of a sectarian conflict that killed more than 1,000 Muslims and Christians.

"We don't need Koopskam at the present," Paliudju said after meeting with the visiting head of the National Intelligence Agency, Syamsir Siregar.

The central government formed Koopskam in January in the wake of escalating tension. It was disbanded in June.

Syamsir played down the latest round of violence, saying that the incidents had been "exaggerated" by the media, Antara reported.

As an example, he said, the media described a grenade used in an attack in Poso on Sept. 30 as "very lethal", while in fact the grenade was "only an old one". -- JP

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Police make arrests over Poso deaths

The Jakarta Post
Palu, Jakarta

Two Muslim men were allegedly slain by a crowd angered by last month's execution of three Christian militants in Central Sulawesi province, police said Monday, while a small explosion shook Poso on Sunday.

The two had been missing for two weeks when their bodies were discovered Saturday in Pongge village in the strife-torn town of Poso, Central Sulawesi Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Muhammad Kilat said.

He said at least 14 suspects had been arrested and that the number could increase to up to 25 depending on the results of the police investigation.

Three of the suspects have said they decapitated the two victims on the orders of a man identified as Api Tumonggi.

"I used a machete to chop their heads off. Afterward, I ran to the backyard to hide. I really regret my wrongdoing," said Eping, 29, one of the three.

He said a feeling of guilt had "shadowed" him, prompting him to hand himself over to police, along with two other suspects, Bambang and Saiful, after hiding for a week.

"Api Tumonggi must be held responsible for the crime. I was only his accomplice," Eping said.

He said the two victims had attempted to hide inside a house of one of the village's residents, but the mob was so large it was impossible to escape.

Kilat said the men had been traveling in a truck carrying fish when they were stopped by a crowd of Christians on Sept. 23, a day after police executed three Christians for leading a militia in several attacks that killed Muslims during sectarian violence in Poso six years ago.

"They were told to stop but refused. They were chased by the angry group and mobbed," Kilat was quoted by Reuters as saying, adding that the attack had been "spontaneous".

The Sept. 22 executions of Fabianus Tibo, Marianus Riwu and Dominggus da Silva triggered riots among Christians, while human rights groups have raised questions over the fairness of the trial.

The family of Tibo, who live on Flores island, said Monday they had decided to have his body autopsied and to take the case to an international court for alleged human rights violations in the execution.

"We held a family meeting on Friday in Ende (in Flores) and agreed to conduct and autopsy and file a suit with an international court," family spokeswoman Yustinus Sani told Antara.

Five bullet wounds were found in each of the three men, she said, indicating they had been tortured before being shot dead by the firing squad.

Yustinus said the plans for the autopsy and lawsuit would have to wait until after the 40th night ceremony had been held for Tibo. Local custom forbids an autopsy less than 40 days after death.

Meanwhile, a bomb blast shook Poso on Sunday night, but there were no reports of deaths or injuries.

The explosion, believed to have been caused by a homemade bomb, took place 9:45 p.m. in Kasiguncu subdistrict. A house owned by former Poso legislative council member Pedi Tandwuiya, was damaged in the blast. Pedi vacated the building in 2000 because of the escalating violence in the area.

National Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Bambang Kuncoko said two witnesses had been questioned over the low-explosive blast.

"There are people and groups that don't want Poso and Central Sulawesi to be stable. However, the situation is now under control. We have deployed eight squads of officers to many locations across the town," Bambang said.***

Saturday, October 07, 2006

Security tight after violence flares in Poso

National News - October 02, 2006
Ruslan Sangadji
The Jakarta Post
Poso, Central Sulawesi

Paramilitary police are being deployed here after a series of attacks and bombings during the weekend amid rising religious tensions following the executions of three Christian militants.

About 20 men wearing black masks blocked a road in Poso town, witnesses told The Associated Press.

They stopped a bus and forced five passengers to get out, intimidating them and stabbing one before police arrived.

The victim was hospitalized with wounds to his back, said Yeni, a nurse. She described his condition as "serious".

Communal tensions have risen on Sulawesi since the executions last week of three Catholic men convicted of leading a militia that carried out attacks in 2000, including an assault on an Islamic school that left at least 70 dead.

Early Sunday morning two bombs exploded near a church and local government offices in Poso's Kawua subdistrict. No one was hurt. When police later arrived, a group of angry Christian villagers attacked them, accusing them of failing to secure the area.

Cornered, police retreated to the Muslim-majority Sayo subdistrict.

A few hours before midnight Saturday, a police vehicle was attacked when a group of men threw a small bomb at a bomb-squad van, AFP reported.

It was the fourth to rock the town in a day, police said.

Previously, three other small bombs went off on Saturday night, part of what police say is an attempt to stir up unrest after the execution of Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus Da Silva and Marinus Riwu.

The three were shot dead by firing squad on Sept. 22.

Human rights activists believe the executions were hasty and politically motivated. No Muslims involved in the convict were sentenced to death and all received jail terms of less than 15 years.

On Friday, more than 100 Christian youths, angered by the Sept. 22 executions, torched a police station and hurled rocks at a helicopter carrying a police chief, state news agency Antara said.

Poso Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Rudy Sufahyadi said the situation in Poso was now under control after the deployment of another 300 officers from the East Kalimantan Police.

Residents have also returned home to the Kawua and Sayo subdistricts in the city although the situation there remains tense.

National Police chief Gen. Sutanto called on people Sunday not to be easily provoked into a larger-scale conflict.

In Taripa village, the situation was calm after the riot at the Pamona Timur Police headquarters there two weeks ago.

The compound remains guarded by members of the Central Sulawesi Police Mobile Brigade, while remnants of burned vehicles resulting from the riot have not been removed.

The Trans Sulawesi highway that links four main provinces on the island has also been reopened.

Thousands of people earlier ran amok at the headquarters after the executions, ransacking the building and setting fire to police vehicles.

Several policemen from the precinct were reported to have fled into the mountains.***

Police identify perpetrators of Taripa riot

National News - October 03, 2006


Ruslan Sangadji
The Jakarta Post
Poso

The Central Sulawesi Police say they have identified four people whom they believe were involved in the disturbances in Taripa, East Pamona district, Poso regency, on Sept. 29. They are still at large.

Two police cars and two motorcycles, and the Taripa police post were damaged in the incident.

Central Sulawesi Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. M. Kilat said Monday that the police had not yet made any arrests as they still lacked sufficient evidence. They are now questioning the four as witnesses after they were identified as having participated in the riot.

"There are some legal steps we have to go through before charging and arresting them," said Kilat.

The disturbances followed last week's execution of three Christians by firing squad in Palu.

The three were executed after being convicted of inciting violence against Muslims in 2000. The executions went ahead despite the opposition of many Christians.

Sporadic unrest in Christian-dominated areas erupted after the executions.

According to Kilat, most of the suspects are from outside Taripa, but are from within the Poso area. The instigators had taken advantage of the padungku (harvest) festival in Taripa village, which was attended by thousands of people from a number of villages in East Pamona district, as well as neighboring North Pamona.

The festival is usually marked by heavy drinking. "The provocateurs benefited from the situation to mobilize the crowd," said Kilat.

The situation in Poso appears to be getting worse, with angry mobs blocking the Trans-Sulawesi highway. In Kayamanya in Poso city, a public bus plying the Parigi-Makassar route was stopped and its passengers attacked and beaten.

One passenger, Jelin, 20, who suffered wounds to his back and head, is still being treated at the Poso General Hospital.

Kilat said that the attack was carried out by about five unidentified persons wearing masks.

Another victim, Ebiet, said that he and his three companions were abducted for two days in South Pamona. However, he was eventually freed although two of his friends, who were of a different faith, continued to be detained.

Ebiet said in Palu on Saturday that the assailants, numbering around 10 people, wore masks. They appeared out of the bushes as Ebiet's car approached. "Four of us were in the car. Myself and a friend of mine were released but they kept the other two, who are Christians," he said.

A police post was set on fire in Poso on Sunday. The arson attack took place as Muslim residents in Gerbang Rejo were enjoying their breaking-of-the-fast meals. They tried to put out the fire but to no avail. No one saw the perpetrators.

In Kawua and Sayo, gunshots were heard in the two subdistricts, which mark the demarcation line between Christian and Muslim communities, at around 10:30 p.m. local time. A resident from Lombogia subdistrict, Muhammad Rasyid, said he heard five shots, adding that local people had remained calm.

Meanwhile, in order to help contain the situation, a meeting between representatives of the Muslim and Christian communities was held Saturday under the sponsorship of the Poso regental administration.

The meeting was chaired by Poso Regent Piet Inkiriwang, who urged religious figures to help persuade their followers not to be easily provoked by third parties.***

Poso activist denies military accusation

Ruslan Sangadji
The Jakarta Post
Palu

A civil society activist in Poso, Central Sulawesi, denied Friday military accusations that he had been involved in the violence that followed the executions of three Catholics.

Iskandar Lamuka, director of Poso-based NGO the Institute for Empowering Civil Society, said he had been called by the Poso Police for questioning.

"I've received a letter from the police asking me to attend a questioning session on Monday. I'll be there and will explain what really happened," he said.

On Thursday, Wirabuana Military commander Maj. Gen. Arief Budi Sampurno named Iskandar as one several non-governmental activists and local officials he believed were behind the violence in the aftermath of the executions of the Poso Three.

Fabianus Tibo, Marinus Riwu and Dominggus da Silva were found guilty of leading a Christian militia that launched a series of attacks in Central Sulawesi in May 2000, and were sentenced to death in 2001.

Their Sept 22. executions triggered violence in the province and in East Nusa Tenggara, where da Silva was from. In Poso, angry Taripa villagers in the North Pamona district stormed a police station and set fire to three cars, while the town itself has been rocked by several recent bombings.

Poso military command chief Lt. Col. Indra Maulana Harahap, following the orders of Arief, officially reported Iskandar to the Poso Police for defamation after he gave an interview to local radio station 68H on Oct. 2. Iskandar says he believes he did not defame any individuals or institutions in the interview.

"(I was only saying that) there are certain groups that intentionally provoke residents to trigger open conflict and legitimize the police in declaring a civil to emergency situation," he said.

Iskandar said Arief had accused him of provoking residents to resort to violent acts.

"I never said anything like that. I never accused TNI as (Arief) said. The accusation is groundless. (Arief)'s statement is misleading," said Iskandar, who is also an executive of the Poso Center NGO.

Before setting up his civil society institute, Iskandar, along with Poso community figure Yus Mangun, worked assisting conflict victims in Poso who were fleeing to Palu. He also pushed for the disclosure of the details of a Poso humanitarian fund corruption case that involved several important officials, a move that allegedly helped make his office a bomb target.

Meanwhile, the Poso Center has said it intends to prepare several lawyers to accompany Iskandar during his Monday questioning.

"We believe Iskandar is innocent, it's just the Wirabuana Military commander who doesn't want to be criticized. if he wanted to have dialog, things would clear up," said Mahfud Masuara, the center's secretary.

He said individuals, NGOs and religious groups had all criticized the way the authorities had handled Poso and the Military's decision to deploy troops.

He said the violence was evidence of the government's failure and that it and the authorities should be held responsible.

"We also want a review of the troop presence in Poso because they haven't made the situation there any better," Mahfud said.***

Monday, October 02, 2006

Security tight after violence flares in Poso

Ruslan Sangadji
The Jakarta Post
Poso, Central Sulawesi

Paramilitary police are being deployed here after a series of attacks and bombings during the weekend amid rising religious tensions following the executions of three Christian militants.

About 20 men wearing black masks blocked a road in Poso town, witnesses told The Associated Press.

They stopped a bus and forced five passengers to get out, intimidating them and stabbing one before police arrived.

The victim was hospitalized with wounds to his back, said Yeni, a nurse. She described his condition as "serious".

Communal tensions have risen on Sulawesi since the executions last week of three Catholic men convicted of leading a militia that carried out attacks in 2000, including an assault on an Islamic school that left at least 70 dead.

Early Sunday morning two bombs exploded near a church and local government offices in Poso's Kawua subdistrict. No one was hurt. When police later arrived, a group of angry Christian villagers attacked them, accusing them of failing to secure the area.

Cornered, police retreated to the Muslim-majority Sayo subdistrict.

A few hours before midnight Saturday, a police vehicle was attacked when a group of men threw a small bomb at a bomb-squad van, AFP reported.

It was the fourth to rock the town in a day, police said.

Previously, three other small bombs went off on Saturday night, part of what police say is an attempt to stir up unrest after the execution of Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus Da Silva and Marinus Riwu.

The three were shot dead by firing squad on Sept. 22.

Human rights activists believe the executions were hasty and politically motivated. No Muslims involved in the convict were sentenced to death and all received jail terms of less than 15 years.

On Friday, more than 100 Christian youths, angered by the Sept. 22 executions, torched a police station and hurled rocks at a helicopter carrying a police chief, state news agency Antara said.

Poso Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Rudy Sufahyadi said the situation in Poso was now under control after the deployment of another 300 officers from the East Kalimantan Police.

Residents have also returned home to the Kawua and Sayo subdistricts in the city although the situation there remains tense.

National Police chief Gen. Sutanto called on people Sunday not to be easily provoked into a larger-scale conflict.

In Taripa village, the situation was calm after the riot at the Pamona Timur Police headquarters there two weeks ago.

The compound remains guarded by members of the Central Sulawesi Police Mobile Brigade, while remnants of burned vehicles resulting from the riot have not been removed.

The Trans Sulawesi highway that links four main provinces on the island has also been reopened.

Thousands of people earlier ran amok at the headquarters after the executions, ransacking the building and setting fire to police vehicles.

Several policemen from the precinct were reported to have fled into the mountains. ***

Sunday, October 01, 2006

Families of Poso three follow men's last wishes

National News - September 30, 2006
Ruslan Sangadji and Yemris Fointuna
The Jakarta Post, Palu, Kupang

Relatives of executed Poso convicts Fabianus Tibo and Marinus Riwu fulfilled the last wishes of the two Friday while the family of Dominggus da Silva has decided to postpone its plan to exhume his body for an autopsy until the end of the 40-day mourning period.

Relatives of Fabianus Tibo and Marinus Riwu, who were executed last Friday along with Dominggus da Silva for inciting violence against Muslims in Central Sulawesi in 2000, returned the coffins provided by the Central Sulawesi Prosecutor's Office.

The coffins were returned in compliance with Tibo and Marinus' last wish, to reject all facilities provided by the state following their execution in Palu despite appeals for clemency and criticism from human rights groups.

An entourage of three cars, including two ambulances carrying the coffins, arrived at the office at 1 p.m. after a 10-hour trip from Beteleme, Morowali regency, led by Rev. Renaldy Damanik.

But since the office's entrance was closed, they dropped the two coffins right in front of it.

Damanik said he could not take the executions last Friday and was only following the Poso three's dying wish.

The family also returned two suits, two pairs of shoes and ties.

After waiting for half an hour and it was clear the prosecutor's office was not going to receive them, the entourage left the open coffins, which emitted a foul odor, right at the entrance.

Meanwhile, in Sikka regency's capital Maumere in East Nusa Tenggara, da Silva's family has decided to postpone the plan to exhume his body for a second autopsy until the 40-day mourning period is over.

The change in plans was approved by the leader of the family, H.E. da Silva, and da Silva's adoptive father Anselmus da Silva.

"The family stands by its earlier decision to uphold justice. But since we have to perform rituals and pray for Dominggus, the family is postponing the plan until the 40 days of prayers for Dominggus is completed," family spokesman Patrik da Silva said from Maumere when contacted Friday.

He said the decision would allow the family to pray without any disruption.

"Everything that relates to our customs is in the hands of the leader so the family has decided to postpone the plan which was scheduled for the end of this week," Patrik said.

National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Paulus Purwoko said Thursday the family of da Silva had dropped a plan to exhume his body for an autopsy to determine whether he was tortured before his execution.

"I heard a report from East Nusa Tenggara Police that da Silva's family has canceled the plan to exhume his body," Paulus said as quoted by Antara news agency.

He said he did not know why the family had dropped the plan but assumed it was because religious figures had convinced the family that da Silva was not tortured before the execution.

Da Silva was originally buried in Palu, Central Sulawesi, after an autopsy was performed by local officials. His body was then exhumed upon the request of his lawyers and church members. A wake was held at the local Catholic church and the body was sent back to da Silva's hometown of Maumere for burial.

Big turnouts for burials of Poso 3

National News - September 25, 2006
The Jakarta Post, Poso, Maumere

Thousands of mourners attended Sunday's burial in Morowali regency, Central Sulawesi, of two of three Catholic men executed last week for leading sectarian attacks, while the body of the third was flown home to Maumere, East Nusa Tenggara.

Their executions by firing squad early Friday in the Central Sulawesi provincial capital of Palu sparked violence, with mobs vandalizing government buildings and police posts in Maumere and storming a jail in Atambua on western Timor island.

At least 5,000 mourners were present at the burial of Fabianus Tibo, who was buried in Beteleme village, Lembo district, in Morowali. The burial ceremony, led by Father Jimmy Tumbelaka, started at 11 a.m. local time and ended at 14:30 p.m. with his interment.

The body of Martinus Riwu was buried in Molore village, Petania district, about 25 kilometers from Beteleme. Martinus' burial was led by Father Jacob Adilang.

"The burial ceremony was orderly," Kinsen Lumintang, a Catholic youth activist, was quoted as saying by Antara newswire.

Soldiers and police guarded churches and mosques in Poso and along roads leading to Beteleme and Molore.

Before the burial, Poso Regent Piet Inkiriwang tried to hand over Rp 5 million (about US$525) in cash to the bereaved relatives of the men, but they refused the money.

Relatives said they were disappointed by the regency's failure to prevent the executions, and especially comments that the executions should be expedited because of security concerns.

Meanwhile, the body of Dominggus da Silva, who had been buried in Palu after his execution, was exhumed and flown back to Maumere on Sunday, his lawyer Roy Rening said.

On eastern Flores island, thousands lined the streets as his body of the 41-year-old public transportation driver was driven from Waioti airport in Maumere to Waidoko graveyard.

The arrival of his body was greeted by his family, Deputy Governor of East Nusa Tenggara Frans Leburaya, Kupang's Wirasakti Military Commander Col. Arif Rachman, East Nusa Tenggara Police chief Brig. Gen. Robert B. Sadarum, Sikka Regent Aleks Longginus and other local government officials.

After a brief stop at his family home, the body was taken to St. Yoseph Cathedral where a prayer session was led by Maumere Diocese official Father Frans Fao for about 10,000 mourners. Dominggus was later buried beside the grave of his father.

Tibo, Marinus and Dominggus were convicted of leading a Christian militia that carried out a series of attacks in May 2000 in Sulawesi, including a machete and gun assault on an Islamic school where dozens of men were seeking shelter. More than 1,000 people of both faiths died in four years of fighting.

But human rights groups have raised questions over the fairness of the trial, and questioned whether the three men were high-ranking fighters. Some analysts have suggested that Indonesia bowed to pressure from hardline groups.

Many Sulawesi Christians, who have been the target of regular terrorist attacks since large-scale clashes ended in 2002, said they wanted to see an end to the spike in tensions since the executions.

"All of us here want peace," Lapasiana toldAP before going to church in Poso on Sunday. "We do not want any more war or killings."

Meanwhile, the Sikka Police have arrested three people for alleged involvement in the vandalism and arson of government buildings on Friday.

They were accused of taking part in riots which destroyed Maumere District Court, the local legislative council building and Maumere prosecutor's office.

Bukaka to send some power to Central Sulawesi

National News - September 25, 2006
Ruslan Sangadji
The Jakarta Post
Palu

Private investment company PT Bukaka Hydropower has agreed to allot at least 30 percent of power generated by the Sulewana hydropower plant project, known as Poso 2, for power needs in Central Sulawesi.

The agreement was reached in a meeting between representatives of PT Bukaka, its partner PT Poso Energy and Central Sulawesi Governor Bandjela Paliudju and regents throughout the Central Sulawesi province in Parigi Moutong regency last week.

The agreement was reached after a heated debate over PT Bukaka's intention to supply most of its power production from the 180-megawatt Poso 2 power plant to nickel company PT Inco in Soroako, South Sulawesi, and state-owned mining company PT Aneka Tambang in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi.

Upon hearing that most of the power from the power plant project would be channeled out to other provinces as disclosed at the meeting by Poso Energy director Heru Husaini, Governor Paliudju, the regents and Central Sulawesi legislators were enraged.

"It's clearly inappropriate if natural resources in Central Sulawesi are not tapped for the province, but for its neighboring provinces. What will Central Sulawesi get from such exploitation?" asked Paliudju.

He urged both PT Bukaka and PT Poso Energy to pay more attention to the region where their investment lies.

Paliudju's view was shared by head of the development commission of the Central Sulawesi Legislative Council, Muharram Nurdin, who said that PT Bukaka and PT Poso Energy had offended the sentiments of the Central Sulawesi people.

"If this is how it is going to be, PT Bukaka and PT Poso Energy may as well leave Central Sulawesi," Muharram said.

He said it would be better to not have any investment in Central Sulawesi if it only burdened the local people.

Central Sulawesi regents, including Parigi Moutong Regent Longky Djanggola, Morowali Regent Datlin Tamalagi and Poso Deputy Regent Abd Muthalib Rimi also expressed their displeasure.

"I will ask my people to pull down the electricity transmission towers if the electricity is not for Central Sulawesi," said Longky Djanggola.

After a heated argument the governor and Irsal Kamaruddin of PT Bukaka and Heru Husaini of PT Poso Energy agreed that Bukaka would share part of its power production in Central Sulawesi.

Under the agreement, PT Bukaka and PT Poso Energy have agreed to reserve 30 percent of power generated from Poso 2 for Central Sulawesi.

Meanwhile, in order to maintain the water supply needed to generate power, the Central Sulawesi provincial administration has agreed to protect nearby forests and their catchment areas.***

Saturday, September 23, 2006

Violence flares after execution of Poso 3

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Groups of Christians, angered by the overnight executions of three Catholic convicts, torched cars and government buildings in East Nusa Tenggara cities Friday.

In Maumere, where one of the executed men, Dominggus da Silva, 42, was born, hundreds of protesters vandalized several government offices, including the local district court and legislative council building. They demanded that Dominggus' body be sent to Maumere for burial.

Dominggus, Fabianus Tibo, 60, and Marinus Riwu, 48, were found guilty of leading a Christian militia that launched a series of attacks in Central Sulawesi in May 2000 -- including a machete and gun assault on an Islamic school where scores of men were seeking shelter.

The three -- known as the Poso 3 -- were led before a firing squad just south of Central Sulawesi's provincial capital Palu at 1:45 a.m. Friday, said I Wayan Pasek Suartha, a spokesman for the attorney general. Their bodies were examined by a team of doctors minutes later, who officially declared them dead.

Thousands also rallied in Atambua, blockading roads and attacking a court, prosecutor's office and other government buildings, according to AFP.

More than 200 inmates escaped after mobs attacked a jail in Atambua, sending guards fleeing to the nearby jungle.

Elsewhere in the country, protesters blocked roads and set buildings on fire.

Palu was largely calm Friday amid increased security. Thousands of police stood on street corners and guarded markets and churches, watching as some 1,000 mourners packed the St. Maria's church to take part in a requiem.

But violence flared in the villages of Tentena and Lage, where hundreds of people, went on a rampage of torching cars and police posts.

Human rights workers say the men's trial was a sham, and that while it was possible the trio took part in some of the bloodshed, they were not the masterminds.

The case has sparked debate about the role religion played in punishing those who participated in violence that swept the Sulawesi province from 1998 to 2002, killing more than 1,000 people from both faiths.

Only a handful of Muslims were convicted, none for more than 15 years in prison.

Din Syamsuddin, chairman of second largest Muslim organization Muhammadiyah, asked the public not to associate the execution with religion because it was a purely legal matter.

"There is nothing that we can do except to respect the court verdict," Din said on the sidelines of a seminar in Jakarta on Friday.

He added that he fully supported capital punishment.

"It provides a deterrent effect on criminals, as well as giving a sense of security to people in general," he was quoted as saying by detikcom news portal.

House of Representatives Speaker Agung Laksono asked people to accept the verdict as the carrying out of the law.

"We have to respect the law. Through the entire legal process it was stated that Tibo and friends were guilty," he told detikcom.

Other politicians criticized the government for shifting the responsibility for dealing with the angry public reaction to local administrations.

Jacobus Mayongpadang from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle said he was disappointed by the Attorney General's Office. It said it was only an instrument for carrying out the sentence, and it was up to religious figures to enlighten the people about the verdict.

"It's not right. The government should be responsible and anticipate the possibility of unrest," he said.

Immanuel Blegur from the Golkar party said the government seemed taken by surprise by the reaction.

"I hope there will be more justice in the legal process in the future, so that the people's conscience will not be disturbed," said the former legislator from East Nusa Tenggara.

Poso three pray as execution deadline nears

National News - September 21, 2006
Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Palu

Three death-row convicts received their last rites Wednesday as the deadline neared for their execution in tense Palu, Central Sulawesi, but family members continued to protest their innocence.

The communion was led by Rev. Jimmy Tumbelaka at Petobo penitentiary in south Palu. Jimmy said he wanted to help Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus da Silva and Marinus Riwu find solace and strength in prayer.

The Catholic plantation workers were sentenced in 2001 for the massacre of about 200 Muslims during sectarian strife in Poso, Central Sulawesi, six years ago.

A reliable source told The Jakarta Post the executions might go ahead at 1 a.m. Thursday in Palu, or Wednesday midnight here, but Jimmy said they would be held as previously scheduled.

"The executions will be held at dawn Friday (Palu time)," said Jimmy, saying the decision was made following a coordination meeting with the Central Sulawesi Police.

The three, he added, would face a firing squad at an undisclosed location. When pressed, he said it would be a site near Palu's Mutiara Airport.

"The executions, whether tonight or Friday, are illegal. They submitted novum (new evidence) but nothing was done about it," he said.

"They have also filed for a second appeal for clemency, so why force the executions to go ahead? This is illegal."

Tibo's eldest son, Robertus, said Wednesday the family was resigned to his fate, but refused to believe he was guilty.

"We can accept the fact (of the execution), that's why we hope he will be patient since God will not close His eyes to his people."

The families of Dominggus and Marinus had yet to visit as of noon Wednesday.

The executions were scheduled for last month but were delayed at the last minute, with the government saying it was busy preparing for Independence Day celebrations on Aug. 17.

In the meantime, there have been protests and counter-protests by Muslims and Christians, and an appeal from Pope Benedictus for clemency.

Security has been tightened, with 4,000 police officers deployed across the province.

The men appealed for presidential clemency for a second time last month after President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono rejected an appeal for a pardon last year.

The head of the Central Sulawesi Assembly of Churches, Rev. Renaldy Damanik, has urged his followers to pray in their own churches or at home, and refrain from actions that may spark more unrest.

"But I believe the executions will be called off again," he said.

Later Wednesday, the penitentiary closed its doors to all visitors, allowing only food inside after a full search conducted by police.

Kin visit Poso three as wait goes on

National News - September 22, 2006

Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Palu

While the convicts known as the Poso three were counting their last hours before they were to face a firing squad overnight in Palu, thousands of police officers in Central Sulawesi were on top alert fearing fresh sectarian clashes.

The families of the three Catholics -- Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus da Silva and Marinus Riwu -- arrived Thursday at the Petobo penitentiary in Palu. Rev. Jimmy Tumbelaka also came to lead Mass.

Jimmy said the convicts were trying to be strong, and that Tibo said he had forgiven everyone who condemned and criticized him. "I don't feel the need for revenge against them. I'm sure God will be with me... I've forgiven them all," he quoted Tibo as saying.

The three were found guilty in 2001 of leading deadly attacks on Muslims the year before during sectarian clashes in Poso.

Hours before the planned executions, Central Sulawesi police and prosecutors rejected the convicts' request for last rites, and for traditional funeral processions for Dominggus and Marinus in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, where they are from.

The convicts' request to have their remains taken to Santa Maria church in Palu was also rejected, and police decided against sending the remains of Dominggus and Marinus back to their hometowns, fearing it would trigger problems.

Dominggus is to be buried in Palu, while Tibo's and Marinus's remains will be taken to their home in Beteleme, Central Sulawesi.

The trio's lawyer, Roy Rening, accused the government of interfering in both the legal process and the funeral arrangements. He added that a procession is a must for a Flores native.

"This is a violation and I, not just as their lawyer, but as a Flores native, can't accept it," he said.

Jimmy said last rites were also essential for Catholics. "I'm confused," he said, adding that a mass would be held for the three at Santa Maria church Friday morning even though the authorities were refusing to bring the remains there.

Some 4,200 security personnel drawn from the police and the military have been deployed around Palu city. Another 200 members of the North Sulawesi Police Brimob paramilitary unit arrived in Palu on Thursday and went directly to secure Poso.

Poso Police chief Lt. Col. Rudy Sufahriyadi said the city was calm. "But we are prepared to handle any reaction against the executions," he told AP.

In East Nusa Tenggara 's six cities, thousands of Christians took to the streets in protest.

In Palu's Santa Maria church, Catholics prayed and called on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to intervene.

The head of the Central Sulawesi Assembly of Churches, Rev. Renaldy Damanik, questioned why the government had not responded to a second clemency request from the convicts.

"What's going on? Is the President worried there are officials involved in the Poso conflicts?" he asked. He called on his followers to pray and refrain from taking actions that might spark unrest.

Former president Abdurrahman Wahid also insisted on a stay of execution.

"The executions are against Islam. In hadis (Muslim tradition), if there's doubt, in this case if the prosecutor has any doubt, don't do it (the executions). It's just that the Attorney General (Abdurrahman Saleh) did not pay attention to religion," he was quoted by Antara as saying in Semarang on Thursday.

"I've called the attorney general, but he insisted on going ahead with the executions because he doesn't understand religion." ***

Kin visit Poso three as wait goes on

National News - September 22, 2006

Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Palu

While the convicts known as the Poso three were counting their last hours before they were to face a firing squad overnight in Palu, thousands of police officers in Central Sulawesi were on top alert fearing fresh sectarian clashes.

The families of the three Catholics -- Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus da Silva and Marinus Riwu -- arrived Thursday at the Petobo penitentiary in Palu. Rev. Jimmy Tumbelaka also came to lead Mass.

Jimmy said the convicts were trying to be strong, and that Tibo said he had forgiven everyone who condemned and criticized him. "I don't feel the need for revenge against them. I'm sure God will be with me... I've forgiven them all," he quoted Tibo as saying.

The three were found guilty in 2001 of leading deadly attacks on Muslims the year before during sectarian clashes in Poso.

Hours before the planned executions, Central Sulawesi police and prosecutors rejected the convicts' request for last rites, and for traditional funeral processions for Dominggus and Marinus in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, where they are from.

The convicts' request to have their remains taken to Santa Maria church in Palu was also rejected, and police decided against sending the remains of Dominggus and Marinus back to their hometowns, fearing it would trigger problems.

Dominggus is to be buried in Palu, while Tibo's and Marinus's remains will be taken to their home in Beteleme, Central Sulawesi.

The trio's lawyer, Roy Rening, accused the government of interfering in both the legal process and the funeral arrangements. He added that a procession is a must for a Flores native.

"This is a violation and I, not just as their lawyer, but as a Flores native, can't accept it," he said.

Jimmy said last rites were also essential for Catholics. "I'm confused," he said, adding that a mass would be held for the three at Santa Maria church Friday morning even though the authorities were refusing to bring the remains there.

Some 4,200 security personnel drawn from the police and the military have been deployed around Palu city. Another 200 members of the North Sulawesi Police Brimob paramilitary unit arrived in Palu on Thursday and went directly to secure Poso.

Poso Police chief Lt. Col. Rudy Sufahriyadi said the city was calm. "But we are prepared to handle any reaction against the executions," he told AP.

In East Nusa Tenggara 's six cities, thousands of Christians took to the streets in protest.

In Palu's Santa Maria church, Catholics prayed and called on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to intervene.

The head of the Central Sulawesi Assembly of Churches, Rev. Renaldy Damanik, questioned why the government had not responded to a second clemency request from the convicts.

"What's going on? Is the President worried there are officials involved in the Poso conflicts?" he asked. He called on his followers to pray and refrain from taking actions that might spark unrest.

Former president Abdurrahman Wahid also insisted on a stay of execution.

"The executions are against Islam. In hadis (Muslim tradition), if there's doubt, in this case if the prosecutor has any doubt, don't do it (the executions). It's just that the Attorney General (Abdurrahman Saleh) did not pay attention to religion," he was quoted by Antara as saying in Semarang on Thursday.

"I've called the attorney general, but he insisted on going ahead with the executions because he doesn't understand religion." ***

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Puasa, Seremoni Ritual Keagamaan yang Ironi

Ruslan Sangadji

“Wahai orang-orang yang beriman, diwajibkan bagi kamu untuk berpuasa, sebagaiman yang diwajibkan kepada orang-orang sebelum kamu, agar kamu bertaqwa—(Q.s al-Baqarah: 183).

Setiap tahun, umat Islam yang telah memproklamirkan dirinya beriman kepada Sang Pencipta, akan dengan taat menjalankan ibadah puasa, dengan segala ritual keagamaan di dalamnya. Semua itu dilaksanakan, dengan keyakinan akan meningkatkan keimanan dan ketaqwaan kepada Sang Pencipta.

Tradisi umat Islam di setiap negara pun berbeda-beda dalam memperlakukan datangnya bulan Ramadhan, maupun mengisi hari-hari selama bulan suci itu. Pun di di Indonesia, setiap daerah juga memiliki kebiasaan yang beragam.

Ada yang memuliakan datangnya Ramadhan dengan membeli peralatan ibadah yang baru untuk digunakan selama Ramadahan. Bahkan, ada yang melaksanakan beberapa kebiasaan seperti berziarah ke makam (kuburan) keluarganya, dan ada yang membaca ayat-ayat suci Alquran.

Stasiun-stasiun televisi swasta nasional, pun telah mempersiapkan berbagai acara bernuansa Ramadhan. Semua itu dilakukan, sebagai pengejawantahan dari kegembiraan umat, atas datangnya bulan Ramadhan yang hanya setahun sekali itu.

Tidak hanya itu, para selebriti yang tadinya berlenggak-lenggok dengan mempertonkan keseksian tubuahnya di layar-layar kaca, tiba-tiba berubah dengan busana yang sangat islami. Perubahan yang terjadi, hanya sebagai tuntutan peran yang harus dimainkan di layar kaca.

Belum lagi para elite bangsa, tiba-tiba berubah terlihat sangat beriman. Tak pernah absen selama tarwih. Selalu hadir dalam buka puasa bersama, tarwih bersama dan berbagai ritual keagamaan lainnya yang dilakukan secara bersama-sama. Bahkan, tiba-tiba menjadi sangat dermawan. Para penjahat pun, tiba-tiba harus berubah menjadi orang yang sangat baik.

Impelementasi Puasa

Secara substansi, Ramadhan seharusnya memiliki tujuan besar dan mulia, yaitu memperbaiki perilaku, memperbaiki moralitas dan kebiasaan-kebiasaan destruktif lainnya. Tapi saat ini, kita memahami puasa, hanya sekadar sebagai sebuah ritual keagamaan biasa yang dijalankan setiap tahun. Puasa tidak diimplementasikan dalam kehidupan berbangsa dan bernegara. Puasa tidak dimaknai sebagai sebuah media perubahan bagi anak bangsa.

Jika puasa sebagai sebuah media untuk memperbaiki diri, maka harus diimplementasikan pula dengan perbaikan moralitas bangsa. Bangsa ini harus menjadi bangsa yang lebih bermoral dan beradab. Jika puasa dimaknai sebagai sebuah ibadah dan perintah Tuhan, maka seharusnya tidak ada lagi ledakan bom, tidak ada lagi korupsi, tidak ada lagi pembalakan liar, tidak ada lagi penghisapan manusia dan tidak ada lagi penindasan terhadap mustadh’afin (kaum yang lemah).

Orang menjadi baik hanya sebulan selama Ramadhan. Seiring berakhirnya puasa yang ditandai dengan kumandang Takbir, Tahmid dan Tahlil di Hari Raya Idul Fitri, perilaku yang baik pun sirna. Para koruptor kembali lagi melakukan penyelewengan, penyakit masyarakat kembali lagi menjadi marak. Pertanyaannya: Lantas untuk apakah kita berpuasa....???

Maraknya praktik korupsi dan terjadinya degradasi moral di negeri ini, karena kita memahmi puasa hanya sebatas menahan lapar dan haus saja. “Berapa banyak orang yang berpuasa, tapi dia hanya sekadar pahala mendapatkan lapar dan dahaganya saja (hadits Nabi Muhammad SAW)”

Menurut Hujjatul Islam, Doktor Mirdamadi, seorang dosen di Universitas Teheran, puasa adalah sebuah amal ibadah yang menimbulkan kekuatan, peningkatan keikhlasan, keselamatan badan, menyembuhkan penyakit, dan menurunkan tingkat kejahatan, serta meningkatkan hubungan yang harmonis di antara anggota masyarakat.

Dengan begitu, maka seharusnya puasa dapat diimplementasikan dalam perbaikan moralitas bangsa yang komprehensif dari semua aspek kehidupan. Tapi yang terjadi justru sebaliknya, puasa yang kita jalankan setiap tahun, belum berdampak pada kehidupan sosial dan kenegaraan yang positif. Celakanya, puasa hanya sekadar sebagai tuntutan menjalankan kewajiban. Bahkan, lebih ironi lagi, hanya sebatas sebuah seremoni dari ritual keagamaan.

Asep Purnama Bactiar dan Endro Dwi Hatmanto (Suara Merdeka, 29 Oktober 2004) menuliskan bahwa kualitas ideal puasa, pada gilirannya akan membangun moralitas bangsa dalam berbagai dimensi kehidupan, seperti moralitas politik, sosial, ekonomi, pendidikan, dan hukum. Pencapaian moralitas bangsa melalui ibadah puasa ini menjadi urgen, karena masih banyak masalah yang kompleks dalam pelbagai aspek kehidupan bangsa Indonesia.

Pertama, gerak kehidupan politik nasional diakui memang cukup maju. Hal ini dapat dilihat dari proses demokratisasi yang puncaknya adalah pemilihan presiden secara langsung. Namun demikian, moralitas sebagian elite kita yang korup akan mencabik-cabik bangunan demokrasi yang telah berproses ini.

Syahwat kekuasaan, berupa rebutan jabatan di kabinet dan lembaga legislatif adalah kenyataan yang terlihat jelas. Alih-alih untuk melayani rakyat, jabatan itu hanya digunakan untuk memperkaya diri dan kelompoknya.

Tujuan hakiki puasa, jika benar-benar dihayati oleh para elite, akan membantu mereka untuk sadar bahwa mereka seharunya dapat menahan kerakusan kekuasaan dan self interest terhadap harta benda dan kedudukan. Sebaliknya, mereka harus sadar untuk melayani rakyat dengan sebaik-baiknya.

Kedua, kasus ledakan bom yang menghilangkan nyawa orang-orang yang tak berdosa, pertentangan etnik, perkelahian pelajar yang memakan korban jiwa, penggunaan narkoba yang semakin marak, adalah sebagian bukti bahwa bangunan moralitas sosial kita sudah keropos. Ibadah puasa jika dihayati dengan benar memberikan ajaran untuk menahan nafsu membunuh, nafsu merugikan orang lain, dan nafsu merusak kehidupan.
Ketiga, dalam Islam, harta dan kekayaan adalah titipan Tuhan. Oleh karena itu, sistem ekonomi yang eksploitatif, berpusat pada segelintir orang, dan menindas yang lemah, adalah ciri dari tidak adanya moralitas ekonomi. Nilai-nilai puasa akan mendorong masyarakat untuk mengembangkan sistem ekonomi yang berkarakter sosial-religius.

Korupsi dan praktik KKN lainnya, dengan demikian, sangat dikutuk dari sudut pandang moralitas puasa. Keserakahan dan kerakusan dalam tindakan korupsi jelas akan memporak-porandakan bangunan ekonomi.

Bahkan oleh Islam, korupsi dianggap sebagai fasad (perbuatan yang merusak dan sangat keji). Tidak salah kalau Muhammad As'ad mengartikan ayat la tufsidu fil ardl dengan do not spread corruption on the earth (jangan menyebarkan korupsi di bumi).
Dapatkah, Puasa Ramadhan tahun 2006 ini, kita dapat lepas dari berbagai persoalan yang multidimensional, mulai dari korupsi, pembunuhan, penembakan, pemboman, kerusuhan sosial.

Dapatkah puasa tahun ini dapat menyadarkan para elite kita dan masyarakat kita, untuk menjadi umat yang benar-benar dapat menjadi Rahmatan lil ‘Alamin (penebar kasih sayang bagi semua alam)? Semua itu kembali pada kesadaran individu, bahwa puasa bukan sekadar menahan lapar dan haus, tapi harus diimplementasi dalam kehidupan berbangsa dan bernegara. ***

Friday, September 08, 2006

Man dies in Central Sulawesi bomb blast

Ruslan Sangadji and Ridwan M. Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Poso, Jakarta

One man died when a bomb exploded Wednesday in Poso regency, Central Sulawesi, which in recent years has been the scene of religious violence.

The explosion in Tangkura village in Poso Pesisir Selatan district, about 20 kilometers from the regency capital Poso city, took place in an empty farm building. The victim, identified as Jhon Tobeli, 50, was taken to Poso General Hospital where an autopsy was performed.

Police report the low-explosive device went off at around 10 a.m. local time. No motive has been reported and officers are continuing to gather information, including speaking with the victim's wife, Ros Sance.

According to information gathered so far, the victim and his wife, residents of Sangira village, were traveling to Poso city to purchase supplies. They stopped at Tangkura village so Jhon could urinate.

As the victim was urinating beside the abandoned building, a low-explosive device placed inside a box went off, killing Jhon instantly. His wife, who was standing on the side of the road near their motorbike, escaped injury.

Ros shouted for help and residents soon began arriving. After being informed her husband was dead, Ros lost consciousness.

Police are still examining the scene and seeking additional information from residents.

A signatory of the Malino peace pact that largely ended the religious violence in Poso, Sofyan Farid Lembah, speculated the bomb could have been the work of a group attempting to cast local Muslims in a bad light.

This follows the postponement of the execution of Fabianus Tibo, Marinus Riwu and Dominggus da Silva, three Christian men sentenced to death for a massacre in Poso.

He pointed out the explosion occurred two days after Muslims staged a rally in Poso demanding the immediate execution of the three men.

"I believe the blast was an attempt to make Muslims the scapegoat for the violence. It's a common scenario in Poso," Sofyan said.

Contacted separately, Poso Regent Piet Inkiriwang urged residents not to be provoked and to allow the authorities to investigate the incident.

Poso remained calm after the explosion. Activity at markets, schools and offices continued as usual, though there were more armed security personnel seen on the streets.

In Jakarta, House of Representative Speaker Agung Laksono asked security authorities to investigate the explosion, which he said was aimed at stoking tension in Poso.

"I don't know the exact motive behind the incident but it and past explosions are sending a clear message that Poso remains restive and the security authorities still have to work harder," he said. He added that Poso could expect more such incidents unless harsh actions were taken.

Agung questioned the work of security authorities in Central Sulawesi, pointing out no arrests have been made in connection with past bombings. He demanded that anyone guilty of fomenting violence in the regency be brought to justice.

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Poso trio renews clemency request

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta, Palu

Three Christian militants facing execution in Central Sulawesi for leading a mob that killed Muslims have made a fresh appeal for presidential clemency, their lawyers and a presidential spokesman said Monday.

The office of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono received a letter from the trio -- Fabianus Tibo, Marianus Riwu and Dominggus Silva -- presidential spokesman Andi Mallarangeng was quoted by Reuters as saying.

One of the men's lawyers, Roy Rening, said the men had submitted their second clemency request "because their trials were full of fabrications".

Roy was speaking while visiting the Palu prison, where the three were being held in isolation.

The law allows death-row convicts to seek a second clemency a minimum of two years after the first request is rejected by the president.

Yudhoyono rejected the men's appeals for a pardon last year. There has been no indication that he will intervene this time.

The three men had been due to face a firing squad on Aug. 12 at a secret location in Palu, the capital of Central Sulawesi province.

They were given an eleventh-hour reprieve. Officials said they wanted to concentrate on preparations for the Aug. 17 Independence Day celebrations.

The delay came after demonstrations against the planned executions by thousands of Indonesians, and a plea by Pope Benedict XVI for President Yudhoyono to spare the trio's lives.

No new date for the execution has been made public, but officials have said the death sentence will be carried out.

The lawyers demanded that the trio be allowed to see visitors. "The isolation is killing them because the three are not permitted to meet their families, lawyers and spiritual leaders," Roy said.

Fierce battles between Christians and Muslims in 2000 and 2001 left some 1,000 people of both religions dead, mostly in Poso. Few people have been brought to justice from either side.

Three Muslim militants were also scheduled for execution earlier this month for their roles in the 2002 Bali bombings, but their sentence was not carried out because lawyers said they were filing a final appeal.

Some analysts have said the government of this predominantly Muslim nation is wavering because it does not want to risk public anger by executing the Bali bombers -- Amrozi bin Nurhasyim, Ali Gufron and Imam Samudra -- before the Christians.

"People were asking, 'Why Amrozi first, and not Tibo?'," Muhammad Mahendratta, an attorney for the Muslim militants, said as quoted by AP.

"For me, it is a simple matter: just follow the death row queue," he said. "Tibo and his friends got convicted first, and they should be executed first."

Five sick as mayor orders bird cull

Ruslan Sangadji
The Jakarta Post
Central, Sulawesi

The mayor of Palu is appealing to bird owners to cull all poultry in the city to prevent a likely epidemic after five suspected human cases of the virus in the area.

However, Rusdy Mastura said the city did not have enough money to compensate farmers for their birds.

Urging all residents in Palu who own poultry to report to the Bird Flu Epidemic Eradication office, Rusdy called for a mass cull of all birds.

"We have asked poultry farmers to destroy their birds voluntarily. We have also informed them that we don't have the funds to compensate them for all the birds destroyed," said Rusdy.

Rusdy made the appeal Monday after dozens of chickens died rapidly over three consecutive days in Datu Pamusu, West Palu.

Five people suspected of contracting the virus are being treated at Palu's Undata Hospital.

"They have not been positively tested as having bird flu, since their blood samples are still being tested," he said.

Palu Bird Flu Epidemic Eradication Office coordinator Abdul Manaf said Monday the department did not have enough disinfectant to spray the city.

The office had also found it difficult to gather data on the number of citizens who owned poultry and their locations, he said.

Thursday, August 24, 2006

FPUI Desak Esksekusi Tibo CS Segera Dilaksanakan

Ruslan Sangadji

Puluhan mahasiswa dan aktivis pemuda Islam yang tergabung dalam Front Perlawanan Umat Islam (FPUI) Sulawesi Tengah, Rabu (23/8) siang, berunjukrasa di jalan-jalan utama Kota Palu dan kantor Kejaksaan Tinggi Sulawesi Tengah.

Mereka menuntut Kajati Sulteng dan Kapolda segera melaksanakan eksekusi terhadap Fabianus Tibo, Marinus Riwu dan Doninggus da Silva.

Setelah berkumpul di Taman Budaya Palu, massa FPUI Sulawesi Tengah ini dengan berjalan kaki menuju Bundaran Hasanuddin Palu. Di tempat ini, massa bergantian menggelar orasi. Mereka juga membagi-bagikan seleberan berisi pernyataan sikap mereka. Sementara sejumlah mahasiswi membawa spanduk dan poster.

Dari Bundaran Hasanuddin, massa kemudian menuju kantor Kejaksaan Tinggi Sulawesi Tengah di Jalan Sam Ratulangi Palu. Di teras kantor ini, massa bergantian berorasi dan membacakan pernyataan sikap.

Massa menuntut Kajati dan Kapolda Sulteng segera melaksanakan eksekusi. Mereka juga meminta aparat segera menangkap Ketua Gereja Kristen Sulawesi Tengah, Pendeta Rinaldy Damanik, karena diduga telah melakukan provokasi di Tentena, Kabupaten Poso. Massa FPUI mengecam Kajati dan Kapolda, yang menunda-nunda pelaksanaan eksekusi tanpa alasan yang jelas.

Kepala Bidang Penerangan Hukum dan Humas Kejati Sulteng, Hasman, yang menerima pengunjukrasa, menyatakan pihaknya baru saja menerima surat pergantian pimpinan di Kejati Sulteng, dan tengah melakukan koordinasi dengan pihak Polda Sulteng untuk penentuan tempat dan waktu eksekusi. "Eksekusi tetap dilaksanakan," tegas Hasman.

Aksi yang dikawal puluhan aparat kepolisian dari Polresta Palu ini, berlangsung aman dan lancar. Massa membubarkan diri usai mendengar penjelasan pihak Kejati Sulteng. Namun, mereka memberi batas waktu satu minggu kepada Kejati Sulteng
untuk segera melakukan eksekusi. Bila batas waktu tidak dipenuhi, mereka akan berunjukrasa dengan massa yang lebih besar.

Sehari sebelumnya, Selasa (22/8), Pangdam VII Wirabuana, Mayor Jenderal Arif Budi Sampurno, ketika menghadiri Ulang Tahun Batalyon Sintuwu Maroso di Poso, meminta eksekusi Fabianus Tibo CS segera dilaksanakan, agar persoalan ini tidak berlarut-larut. Pangdam menyatakan, pihaknya siap mengerahkan 1000 personil TNI di Poso untuk membantu Polisi menjaga keamanan pasca eksekusi.

Usai pelaksanaan upacara peringatan Ulang Tahun Batalyon 714 Sintuwu Maroso Poso, Pangdam VII Wirabuana menegaskan, pelaksanaan eksekusi mati terhadap Tibo cs telah berkekuatan hukum, sehinga tidak ada alasan lagi untuk menundanya. Kalaupun ada kalangan yang menolaknya, ia meminta agar dengan penuh kesadaran menerimanya.

"Pelaksanaan eksekusi lebih cepat lebih baik. Soal kerawanan pasca eksekusi, bukan masalah. Kami siap
membantu polisi mengamankan Poso pasca pelaksanaan eskekusi," tegas Pangdam Mayjen TNI Arif Budi Sampurno.

Sementara itu, Kapolda Sulawesi Tengah, Brigadir Jenderal Polisi Oegroseno menyatakan, pihaknya mempertimbangkan banyak hal terkait pelaksanaan eksekusi terhadap terpidana mati kasus Poso. Ia mengkau tengah berkoordinasi dengan pihak Kejaksaan Tinggi Sulawesi Tengah untuk pelaksanaan eksekusi itu.

Pelaksanaan eksekusi terhadap Fabianus Tibo cs, hingga kini terus tertunda. Tercatat sejak akhir maret 2006 ini, telah mengalami tiga kali penundaan tanpa alasan yang jelas.***

Want to be your own boss

Saturday, August 19, 2006

Poso three's execution 'a matter of time'

Ruslan Sangadji
The Jakarta Post
Palu

The execution of the three men on death row for inciting violence in Poso will go ahead because their fate has been determined by law, the Central Sulawesi governor says.

Bandjela Paliudju said it would only be a matter of time before a new date was set for the execution, which the government delayed just hours before its deadline on Aug. 12 at 12:15 am.

"According to the law, the three should be executed and as citizens, we have to obey the law," the governor said.

The three -- Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus da Silva and Marianus Riwu -- were sentenced to death for inciting religious riots in the city on May 23, 2000, in which 191 people, mostly Muslims, were killed.

Announcing the delay on Aug. 11, National Police chief Gen. Sutanto said the three convicts -- all migrants from East Nusa Tenggara -- would be executed after Aug. 20 to allow their jailers to celebrate Independence Day on Thursday.

The announcement the execution would not go ahead was made just hours after the President received a telegram from Pope Benedict XVI, asking him to spare the men's lives.

Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda said in Malang the government had not made the decision to appease any party, foreign or domestic.

The delay has been condemned by groups supporting the execution and cautiously welcomed by others, who believe that the three men have been wrongly convicted of the crimes.

Governor Bandjela told people not to overact when responding to the stay of execution, warning that violent acts could provoke the resumption of a wider conflict.

"Our province is now safe and we're in the middle of a campaign to let outside people know it's safe here, so let's put a stop to all actions that will disrupt stability," Bandjela said.

Meanwhile, Central Sulawesi Police chief Brig. Gen. Oegroseno said he did not know when the execution of the three would be held. "The prosecutor office knows about it, we're just waiting for orders," he said.

However, the head of the provincial prosecutor's office, Yahya Sibe, said he believed the local police did know the execution's schedule and location.

The execution of the three is controversial because the men's lawyers claim they were wrongly convicted for the violence and are scapegoats in the case. They have release the names of 16 people they say masterminded the killings to the police, who are reinvestigating the incident.

Friday, August 18, 2006

Lagi, Unjukrasa Anti Hukuman Mati di Tentena

Ruslan Sangadji

Ribuan warga di Tentena, Kabupaten Poso, Sulawesi Tengah, Jumat (18/8) kembali menggelar aksi unjukrasa. Mereka menuntut agar penerapan hukuman mati dihapuskan di Indonesia.

Aksi yang diprakarsai Solidaritas Masyarakat Anti Hukuman Mati itu, juga menggelar teaterikal yang menceritakan soal ketiga terpidana mati kasus kerusuhan Poso, Fabianus Tibo, Marinus Riwu dan Dominggus da Silva.

Sebelumnya, warga di Tentena menggelar upacara Peringatan HUT Proklamasi 17 Agustus 2006, dengan menaikan bendera setengah tiang.

Upacara itu sebagai tanda duka atas rencana eksekusi terhadap ketiga pendatang asal Flores, Nusa Tenggara Timur yang yang divonis terlibat kerusuhan Poso itu.

Lian Gogali, aktivis Solidarita Masyarakat Anti Hukuman Mati, kepada The Jakarta Post, Jumat (18/8) menjelaskan, aksi itu tidak hanya berlangsung di Tentena, tapi di beberapa kecamatan yang mayoritas dihuni warga Kristiani, antara lain di Kecamatan Pamona Timur, Pamona Selatan dan Kecamatan Lore Utara.

"Kita tidak akan berhenti berjuang sampa penerapan hukuman mati dihapuskan di bumi Indonesia. Sekali lagi, hukuman mati adalah bentuk pelanggaran hak azasi manusia," tegas Lian Gogali.

Vincent Lumintang, aktivis pemuda gereja di Tentena mengatakan, aksi unjukrasa yang dimulai dari Terminal Tentena menuju camp pengungsi di Later Tentena itu, diikuti oleh sedikitnya 3000 orang.

Dalam aksi itu, kata Vincent, mereka tidak hanya minta menghapuskan hukuman mati dan menolak rencana eksekusi terhadap Fabianus Tibo, Marinus Riwu dan Dominggus da Silva, tapi juga kepada Amrozi dan kawan-kawan.

Sementara itu, ustadz Adnan Arsal, tokoh Islam di Poso Kota, menegaskan bahwa pihaknya tetap taat pada keputusan hukum. Dan sepengetahuan dia bahwa proses hukum terhadap ketiga terpidana mati kasus Poso itu sudah final.

"Kalau kita sebagai warga negara yang taat pada hukum, maka kita harus konsekwen juga harus merelakan Tibo, Marinus dan Dominggus serta Amrozi dan kawan-kawan dieksekusi mati. Itu keputusan hukum," kata Adnan Arsal.

Pihaknya juga berjanji akan menurunkan massa dalam jumlah yang besar untuk mendesak eksekusi mati terhadap ketiga terpidana mati kasus Poso itu. "Tapi kita tunggu sampai tanggal 20 Agustus ini," tegas Adnan Arsal.

Kapolda Sulawesi Tengah, Brigadir Jenderal Polisi Oegroseno usai salat Jumat (18/8) mengatakan, sampai saat ini pihaknya belum berkoordinasi soal rencana eksekusi mati itu.

"Mungkin sehari dua ini kita akan bertemu untuk membicarakannya," tandas Kapolda Sulteng.***

Still no word on when Poso 3 to be executed

Ruslan Sangadji and Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Palu/Jakarta

Government officials remained evasive Thursday as to when the three Christians convicted of killing more than 100 Muslims in the sectarian violence in Central Sulawesi in 2000 will be executed.

National Police chief Gen. Sutanto last week said that the execution of Fabianus Tibo, Marinus Riwu and Dominggus da Silva would be delayed from Aug. 12 to sometime "after the commemoration of Independence Day". The delay followed a barrage of local and international protests.

Officials in both Jakarta and Palu refused to comment on what was happening and instead tossed the ball from one to another.

After attending the Independence Day ceremony at the State Palace, Attorney General Abdul Rahman Saleh said the decision was in the hands of Gen. Sutanto.

But Sutanto later told reporters that the matter was actually up to the Central Sulawesi Police chief, Brig. Gen. Oegroseno.

"I don't know anything about that. The (Central Sulawesi) Provincial Prosecutor's Office is the one to ask," said Oegroseno in Palu when asked about Sutanto's statement.

However, the provincial chief prosecutor, Yahya Sibe, said he knew nothing about what was afoot.

The confusion comes amid fears that the executions, if they go ahead, could spark yet another round of sectarian bloodletting in Central Sulawesi.

The convicted men and their sympathizers insist that the three were only acting as pawns while the real masterminds remain untouched by the law. Tibo has named 16 people as being the real masterminds behind the conflict and demanded they be investigated.

The three still have one last chance left to seek presidential clemency in 2007. The police say that all other legal avenues have been exhausted.

The men's supporters in Palu continue to press the police to expand their investigations, and have threatened to resort to violence should the government press ahead with the executions.

Central Sulawesi Governor Bandjela Paliudju asked local people to stay calm Thursday and accept the decisions of the courts.

"Our area is safe now. We are promoting Central Sulawesi to people out there as a safe place, so we can't afford to have any more violence that could adversely affect our stability," he said.

Thursday, August 17, 2006

Gubernur: Soal Tibo, Kita Harus Taat Pada Hukum

Ruslan Sangadji

Gubernur Sulawesi Tengah, Bandjela Paliudju menegaskan, masalah eksekusi Fabianus Tibo, Marinus Riwu dan Dominggus da Silva, adalah masalah hukum sehingga warga diminta agar taat pada keputusan hukum.

"Keputusan hukum sudah menetapkan bahwa ketiganya harus dieksekusi. Jadi, sebagai warga kita harus taat pada keputusan hukum itu," tegas Gubernur Paliudju kepada wartawan, usai upacara peringatan Detik-Detik Proklamasi 17 Agustus.

Gubernur Paliudju juga meminta, masyarakat dalam menyikapi keputusan hukum mengenai eksekusi terhadap Fabianus Tibo, Marinus Riwu dan Dominggus da Silva itu, agar tidak berlebihan dan tidak melakukan aksi-aksi yang dapat memicu terjadinya kembali konflik di tengah masyarakat.

"Daerah kita sudah aman. Saat ini kita tengah mengkampanyekan kepada pihak luar bahwa Sulawesi Tengah sudah aman, jadi jangan lagi ada aksi-aksi yang dapat menganggu stabilitas," pinta Mayor Jenderal Jenderal Purnawirawan TNI ini.

Gubernur khawatir, jika ada aksi-aksi yang berlebihan dalam mendukung satu kelompok tertentu, akhirnya menimbulkan aksi balasan dari kelompok lain.

"Jadi sekali lagi, saya sangat berharap agar mari kita taati keputusan hukum yang ada," tambahnya.

Guberur Paliudju juga membantah, kalau Muspida Sulawesi Tengah telah memberikan pertimbangan kepada pemerintah pusat untuk menunda pelaksanaan eksekusi terhadap Fabianus Tibo, Marinus Riwu dan Dominggus da Silva.

"Muspida Sulteng memang selalu mengadakan pertemuan, tapi kami tidak pernah membicarakan soal penundaan atau mempercepat eksekusi. Kami hanya bicara soal percepatan pembangunan di Sulawesi Tengah dan pemulihan Poso paca konflik," katanya.

Sementara itu, pihak Kepolisian Daerah dan Kejaksaan Tinggi Sulawesi Tengah, terkesan saling berbalas pantun soal rencana eksekusi tiga terpidana mati kasus Poso itu yang menurut rencana setelah peringatan HUT Proklamasi 17 Agustus ini.

Kapolda Sulawesi Tengah, Brigadir Jenderal Polisi Oegroseno mengatakan, pihaknya belum mengetahui pasti soal jadwal eksekusi pasca 17 Agustus itu. "Pihak Kejaksaan Tinggi yang tahu. Kami hanya tinggal menunggu perintah saja," kata Kapolda.

Kepala Kejaksaan Tinggi Sulawesi Tengah, Yahya Sibe, kepada The Jakarta Post mengatakan, pihak Polda Sulteng yang lebih mengetahui soal jadwal dan tempat eksekusi itu. "Saya tidak tahu kapan eksekusi itu akan dilaksanakan. Kita tunggu saja dech," ujarnya.

PEMULIHAN POSO

Gubernur Sulawesi Tengah Bandjela Paliudju yang didampingi Wakil Gubernur Achmad Yahya, dalam konferensi pers menjelaskan, pihaknya telah menyiapkan lima agenda untuk pemulihan Poso pasca konflik bernuansa SARA.

Menurut Gubernur, lima agenda pemulihan Poso itu, adalah; Mengembalikan dan memelihara stabilitas keamanan. Itu dimaksudkan tidak ada ketakutan dan rasa was-was di tengah masyarakat, baik yang ada di Poso maupun pendatang.

Agenda berikut adalah; Pengembalian hak-hak keperdataan masyarakat yang hingga kini masih bermasalah. Untuk keperluan ini, Gubernur Paliudju mengatakan, pihaknya telah membentuk tim yang terdiri dari pihak Pertanahan, Kepolisian, TNI dan masyarakat.

Agenda selanjutnya adalah; pendataan kependudukan secara komprehensif. Menurut Gubernur Paliudju, itu dimaksudkan agar pihaknya dapat mengetahui dengan pasti mengenai siapa saja warga yang benar-benar menetap di Poso, dan siapa yang hanya sekadar datang ke Poso karena ada kepentingan tertentu.

Agenda lain yang sangat penting lagi, kata Paliujdu, adalah peningkatan pembangunan seperti rehabilitasi pemukiman, rehabilitasi rumah ibadah dan fasilitas umum lainnya yang rusak saat terjadinya konflik sosial sejak tahun 1998 silam.

Agenda terkahir untuk pemulihan Poso, adalah peningkatan ekonomi rakyat. Menurut Gubernur Paliudju, tak dapat dipungkiri bahwa setelah terjadi kerusuhan, banyak orang yang akhirnya kehilangan mata pencaharian dan lapangan kerja.

"Jadi, kita akan dorong agar perekonomian di Poso dapat tumbuh dengan baik, supaya ekonomi masyarakat dapat meningkat. Salah satu caranya, adalah dengan mendorong investasi di Poso," papar Gubernur Sulteng.

Untuk pemulihan Poso, Gubernur Paliudju mengatakan bahwa pihaknya membutuhkan sedikitnya Rp 31 miliar. Namun saat ini Pemerintah Provinsi Sulawesi Tengah hanya memiliki anggaran sekitar Rp 2,1 miliar.

"Selebihnya kita berharap dari Pemerintah Pusat. Presiden RI telah menyatakan siap membantu sisa anggaran untuk pemulihan Poso. Tapi hingga kini belum ada realisasinya," tandasnya.***

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Maknai Cinta Hilangkan Kekerasan

Ruslan Sangadji

Whizzkid, sebuah grup musik yang pernah didirect oleh Ian Antono, dengan vokalis Hengky Supit, sempat hilang dari blantika musik Indonesia. Kelompok itu "bubar" setelah ditinggal pergi oleh vokalisnya, Hengky Supit.

Padahal, sebelumnya kelompok musik itu berhasil menyabet beberapa predikat terbaik, seperti juara I Festival Rock Jakarta dan juara II Festival Rock Indonesia. Dan Hengky Supit, sang vokalis berhasil meraih The Best Vokalis (1991).

Tahun berikutnya, musisi kawakan yang juga gitaris God Bless, Ian Antono, merangkul Whizzkid dengan memproduksi single "Percayalah" yang berisikan dua lagu yaitu: Percayalah dan Rumah Api.

Sampai akhirnya tahun 2000, kelompok ini pun vakum di dunia musik Indonesia. Hengky Supit juga telah hijrah ke Belanda karena harus menikah dengan wanita dari negeri kincir angin itu.

Lima tahun, Whizzkid pun hilang entah ke mana.Personilnya tercerai-berai. Tak ada lagi langgam cinta dari Hengky Supit. Yang ada hanyalah sebuah perpisahan.

Tapi kini, Whizzkid telah kembali dengan formasi baru. Ahmad Malik Lamarauna, seorang pendatang baru di dunia musik Indonesia, mencoba menyatukan kembali para personil yang sudah bercerai ini.

Anak muda ini berhasil meyakinkan para personil Whizzkid, sampai berhasil merilis album ke enamnya yang diberi title "Satu Nafas Cinta".

Di album ini, Whizzkid mengajak publik musik Indonesia untuk kembali meresapi makna arti cinta. Formasi baru kelompok musik Whizzkid itu adalah Lead vocal, Ferry Salim Alfian, Lead guitar, Andy Hidayat, Bass, Andy Muh Yusuf dan drum Mochammad Idrus.

Setelah melewati masa kontemplasi kevakuman sekitar lima tahun, ternyata whizzkid dengan konsep serta format baru, kembali memasuki blantika musik Indonesia dengan menawarkan tembang-tembang bertemakan cinta.

Salah satu tembang andalannya "Satu Nafas" yang bercerita tentang bagaimana manusia memaknai dan memahami suatu persoalaan kehidupan, dengan tidak harus melalui jalan kekerasan.

Fenomena sosial yang terjadi saat ini, merupakan akumulasi dari komunikasi yang tersumbat, dimana konflik-konflik yang terjadi saat ini hanya dipicu oleh rasa saling tidak percaya di antara sesama manusia.

Penggambaran tanpa ada kekerasan itu, terlihat dalam salah satu bait lirik "Satu Nafas. Bahwa demi cinta jangan ada yang tersakiti, demi cinta jangan ada yang terlukai. Satukanlah rasamu, satukanlah hatimu, satukanlah nafasmu.

"Saya berasal dari daerah konflik, Sulawesi Tengah. Sampai sekarang pun saya masih berdomisli di Palu. Jadi saya paham betul bagaimana sebuah kekerasan itu hanya melahirkan kesedihan dan kesengsaraan," kata Ahmad Malik Lamarauna.

"Makanya ketika saya ditawari menjadi produser, saya bersedia asal ada lagu yang menceritakan tentang hentikan kekerasan," tambahnya.

Memang, kata Ahmad Malik Lamarauna, perbedaan itu selalu ada, tetapi ketika perbedaan itu dimaknai dengan rasa cinta, maka wujud esensi manusia dalam hubungan sosial akan menuai kedamaian.

Menurut Ahmad Malik, potret buram Indonesia beberapa tahun terakhir ini. merupakan kegelisahan Whizzkid untuk kembali berkarya menyampaikan pesan tentang arti kehidupan yang sesungguhnya.

kini Whizzkid telah kembali. Mereka merilis kembali beberapa lagu baru dan lama, seperti: Percayalah (single percayalah) Empat tahun.

Dan Lepaskan (album gadis kecil) dan satu lagu yang diambil pada tahun 2000 (album whizzkid) berjudul `Biar kutemui` yang kemudian di arensemen dengan warna musik serta beat yang lebih progress dan sound yang lebih muktahir menyesuaikan dengan trend masa kekinian.

Whizzkid, pada awal pembentukannya, begitu giat mengikuti event musik, baik berupa pementasan yang berskala kecil hingga sekelas festival. Dan, perjuangan whizzkid pun menuai hasil memuaskan. Kelompok musik ini pernah menyabet predikat juara pertama pada event Festival Rock se-Jakarta.

Keberhasilan itu tidak membuat para personilnya merasa puas. Selanjutnya, event bergengsi Festival Rock se-Indonesia ke IV yang diadakan oleh promotor musik tenar Log-Zelebour, kelompok ini berhasil meraih tempat kedua dan mendapat predikat sebagai best performance dan the best vokalis.

Kelompok ini pernah merilis sejumlah lagu, antara lain Album Percayalah (1993) Album Gadis Kecil (1994), dan Album Langgam Cinta (1997) Album WHIZZKID (2000). ***

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Delayed execution stirs controversy

Ruslan Sangadji and Yemris Fointuna
The Jakarta Post
Palu/Kupang

The decision to grant three men in Central Sulawesi a stay of execution has caused much controversy, with legislators suggesting they be moved to another prison and protesters in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, demanding their lives be spared.

Legislator Ali Muchtar Ngabalin, who sits on House of Representatives Commission I for political affairs, said Fabianus Tibo, Marinus Riwu and Dominggus da Silva should be transferred to Nusakambangan Penitentiary in Central Java to isolate them from external influences or pressures.

The government delayed the execution of the three men by firing squad just hours before it was due to be held at 12:15 a.m. Saturday. They were sentenced to death for inciting riots in connection with sectarian violence in Poso in 2000, in which 191 people, mostly Muslims, were killed.

"As the case developed, Tibo made many conflicting statements, that's why they should be detained in a neutral environment," he told The Jakarta Post by phone Monday.

Initially, he said, Tibo did not deny claims that 16 other people were responsible for instigating the violence in Poso. But he later revoked his statement, changing the 16 people to 10.

"These conflicting statements mean someone has been feeding him information," Ali said.

He said Tibo had also changed his mind about some of the names he had given police.

"So, Nusakambangan is the right place for Tibo and his friends."

Ali questioned the government's move to delay the execution for a third time. "There should be an honest explanation," he said.

Tibo's family in Palu said they were thankful for the extra time.

His wife, Nurlin Kasiala, managed a smile for reporters Monday, while his children, Robert and Angki, appeared relaxed.

"But our fight is not yet over, we're still worried," Robert said.

The three convicts are being held in adjacent isolation rooms.

Muslim students and activists in Poso have raised plan to protest against the decision to delay the execution Monday.

"... We'll see if the government stands by its decision to carry out the execution after the Independence Day celebrations. If it's postponed again, we'll stage a massive rally," said Muhammad Syarif, the chairman of the Palu Islamic Students Association.

Independence Day is celebrated on Aug. 17.

Protesters in Kupang, angered by the stay of the execution,obstructed main thoroughfares and burned tires Monday.

They congregated outside the East Nusa Tenggara Prosecutor's Office, demanding that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono grant clemency to the three men.

Tibo, they said, had been led "like a lamb to the slaughter" for political interests.

"The masterminds of the bloody incident have been exposed in new evidence presented by the three death-row convicts in their appeal. Why aren't they brought to justice...," said protest coordinator Kristo.

Monday, August 14, 2006

No more death penalty: Bishops

National News - August 13, 2006

The Jakarta Post, Palu, Kupang, Jakarta

Unimpressed by the government's decision Friday to stay the execution of three Christians in Central Sulawesi, church leaders are continuing to demand the abolition of the country's capital punishment system.

In their letter to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Indonesian Bishops Conference (KWI) leaders said Indonesia had ratified an international convention on civil and political rights, which required the acknowledgement and respect of citizens' right to live.

"We appeal to the government ... to abolish capital punishment for good," KWI said in a letter signed by chairman Julius Kardinal Darmaatmadja SJ and secretary-general Arch Bishop I. Suharyo Pr., a copy of which was made available to The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

The government delayed the execution by firing squad of Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus Da Silva and Marianus Riwu just hours before it was due to be held at 12:15 a.m. Saturday.

The men were sentenced to death for inciting riots in connection with sectarian violence in Poso on May 23, 2000, in which 191 Muslims were killed.

National Police chief Gen. Sutanto said the three convicts -- all migrants from East Nusa Tenggara -- would be executed after Aug. 20 to allow them and officials to celebrate Independence Day on Aug. 17.

"It (the execution) is just a matter of time. It's not possible to reverse the court's decision," he said.

The men's lawyers have claimed that 16 other people were responsible for instigating the violence in Poso and have called on the authorities to stop or at least delay the execution to allow for further investigation into the case.

The President has yet to respond to their second appeal for clemency.

The announcement the execution would not go ahead Saturday was made just hours after the President received a telegram from Pope Benedict XVI, asking him to spare the men's lives.

But Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda said in Malang the government was not acting under pressure from any party because Indonesia was a sovereign state.

"The execution has not been canceled, just delayed," he said. "We (the government) did receive letters from various quarters, including the one from the Vatican, although I didn't see it personally."

In the predominantly Christian town of Tentena in Poso regency, 40 Christians who occupied the local high court Friday demanding the abolition of the death sentence, dispersed peacefully Saturday morning after hearing about the stay of the execution.

In Maumere, East Nusa Tenggara, thousands of protesters forced the prosecutor's office to lower the Indonesian flag to half mast to symbolize "the demise of the supremacy of law".

Chairman of the Commission for Justice and Peace Father Maxi Un Bria said the best solution would be to cancel the execution and find the real masterminds.

"There is no dignity in execution, because humans assume the divine authority of taking a man's life, in the name of the law," he said as quoted by Antara news agency.

Mahendradatta, one of the lawyers of three Muslims convicted for the 2002 bombings in Bali -- Imam Samudra, Amrozi and Ali Gufron -- said the decision to execute the Poso convicts was suspicious because it came just as the execution of the Bali bombers was expected.

He said the government wanted to appear fair in its treatment of both Christians and Muslims on death row.

"It seems that the decision to execute Amrozi and his partners (Imam Samudra and Ali Gufron) was a hasty one. Why is that?"

The stay of the Christians' execution angered many Muslims in Poso.

Cleric Adnan Arsal, who chairs the Poso Muslims Fighting and Family Forum, told The Jakarta Post on Saturday that if the convicts were not executed, Muslims in Poso and Tojo Una-Una would stage a massive rally.

"We'll see what happens after the Independence Day celebrations. If the execution doesn't take place as promised it will insult the Muslim victims," Adnan said.

A victim of the Poso conflict, Nyak Harun Itam Abu, who is also on the team of Poso Muslims' lawyers, told the Post that Tibo, Dominggus and Riwu did not mastermind the conflict but they did murder hundreds of Muslims.

"We have witnesses and evidence, so there's no way the three can say they're innocent. They should be executed."

But the delay brought some relief to Christians groups in Palu. Priest Jimmy Timbelaka said it would allow police to investigate the 16 people who lawyers claimed were the real masterminds of the conflict.

Sunday, August 13, 2006

Mengakrabi Ketiga Terpidana Mati Kasus Poso

Ruslan Sangadji

Sabtu (12/8), pukul 00.15 Wita, seharusnya menjadi hari terakhir bagi Fabianus Tibo, Marinus Riwu dan Dominggus da Silva, menikmati kehidupan mereka di dunia. Karena, pada hari itu, ketiganya akan mengakhiri hidup di hadapan regu tembak. Tapi, Kapolri menegaskan bahwa eksekusi itu ditunda hingga selesai peringatan Hari Proklamasi 17 Agustus 2006.

Reaksi warga Kristen dan para pemrotes hukuman mati, yang sejak sehari sebelumnya telah menggelar aksi unjukrasa, bersorak gembira atas keputusan Kapolri, yang konon sebenarnya atas saran Muspida Provinsi Sulawesi Tengah itu.

Di Gereja Santa Maria Palu, jemaat bertepuk tangan, bernyanyi dan bersorak, laksana para pendukung tim sepak bola yang memenangkan pertandingan. Semuanya senang, karena ternyata perjuangan mereka tidak sia-sia.

Sementara itu, reaksi umat Islam di Palu dan Poso, biasa-biasa saja. Tak ada kesedihan atau pun protes sama sekali. Warga Muslim hanya bertanya-tanya, kenapa eksekusi harus ditunda lagi, padahal ketetapan hukum sudah mengikat terhadap ketiga terpidana mati tersebut.

Ketua Umum Pengurus Pusat Himpunan Pemuda Alkhairaat, Farud Jafar Nasar, mengatakan bahwa dengan adanya penundaan eksekusi itu, justru membuat publik kehilangan kepercayaan terhadap hukum di Indonesia. Pasalnya, semua proses hukum sudah dilewati dan sudah final.

Sementara Edmond Leonardo Siagian, dari aktivis anti hukuman mati, mengatakan bahwa hukuman mati itu adalah bentuk pelanggaran Hak Azasi Manusia, sehigga meminta agar hukuman mati itu dibatalkan.

Ustadz Adnan Arsal, ketua Forum Silaturahmi dan Perjuangan Umat Islam Poso, mengancam akan menurunkan massa dalam jumlah besar, jika eksekusi terhadap ketiga terpidana mati yang dijanjikan setelah peringatan Hari proklamasi 17 Agustus nanti, ternyata ditunda atau dibatalkan.

Lantas siapa sebenarnya Fabianus Tibo, Marinus Riwu dan Dominggus da Silva, sampai ketiganya harus dibela habis-habisan oleh berbagai kelompok di Palu, Tentena dan di beberapa daerah di Indonesia, termasuk Vatikan???

Siapa Tibo...???

Fabianus Tibo, akrab disapa Om tibo. Lahir di Flores 60 tahun silam. Ia anak keenam dari pasangan Orbertus Andapo dan Maria Mosso. Ia sempat mengenyam pendidikan di Sekolah Rakyat (SR) di kampung kelahirannya, tapi tidak tamat.

Ia menginjakan kaki pertama kali di Sulawesi Tengah pada 1973 di Luwuk, Kabupaten Banggai. Di sini dia menjadi buruh pada PT Marabunta. Di Luwuk pula dia bertemu tambatan hatinya, Nurlin Kasiala. Dari hasil pernikahannya kedua pasangan ini dikaruniai tiga anak lelaki dan satu anak perempuan.

Tahun 1978, Fabianus Tibo memboyong keluarganya ke Desa Jamur Jaya di Morowali, Sulawesi Tengah. Di tempatnya yang baru itu, ia bekerja sebagai penyadap karet di PT Perkebunan Nusantara XIV unit kebun Beteleme. Ia dituakan oleh para pekerja di perkebunan itu, karena selain usianya yang sudah tua, Om Tibo dipercaya memiliki kelebihan seperti mengobati orang sakit alias dukun.

Fabianus Tibo, pada tahun 1990-an, pernah mendekam di Lembaga Pemasyarakatan Palu, karena kasus pembunuhan terhadap salah seorang warga Bali di kampungnya. Ia menjalani hukuman itu selama sekitar 3 tahun.

Siapa Dominggus da Silva...???

Dominggus da Silva, panggilan akrabnya adalah Domi. Pria ini lahir di Maumere pada 42 tahun lalu. Domi adalah satu-satunya buah hati Dominicus da Silva dan Maria Dualio. Setelah sebelumnya sempat merantau ke Jakarta. Domi yang lulusan sekolah teknik menengah jurusan mesin ini, hijrah ke Morowali pada 1991 silam.

Ia memilih bekerja di PT Inco, Soroako, Sulawesi Selatan. Namun memilih tinggal di Beteleme. Setiap Senin, ia ke Soroako dan Sabtu kembali ke Beteleme. Ia bekerja sebagai sopir alat-alat berat di perusahaan
pertambangan multinasional ini.

Selain itu, Domi bekerja di PT Perkebunan Nusantara XIV unit kebun Beteleme, sampai kemudian konflik Poso menyeretnya ke penjara bersama Om Tibo.

Siapa Marinus Riwu...???

Marnius Riwu alias Rinus, juga berasal dari Nusa Tenggara Timur. Ia juga tinggal di Morowali. Pria kelahiran 48 tahun lalu di Kupang ini, adalah anak bungsu dari pasangan Daniek Djaga dan Lusiana Bude. Di
Molores, kampung orang-orang Nusa Tenggara di Bungku Morowali, Sulawesi Tengah, ia menikahi seorang perempuan yang memberinya empat orang anak. Ia pun bekerja di PT Perkebunan Nusantara XIV.

Betulkah Mereka Terlibat di Poso...???

Kerusuhan Poso berjilid-jilid. Mulai dari Jilid I tahun 1998, kemudian Jilid II tahun 1999 dan Jilid III tahun 2000. Dan pada jilid III yang menimbulkan kepedihan dan kesengsaraan serta trauma bagi
masyarakat di Poso. Konflik tahun 2000 inilah sejumlah pemukiman warga dan sarana pendidikan dibakar termasuk Pondok Pesantren Walisongo.

Muhammad Ilham, salah seorang korban kerusuhan Poso dari Desa Sintuwu Lembah, Kecamatan Lage menuturkan, serangan ke Pesantren Walisongo, di Desa Sintuwu Lembah, terjadi pada Minggu 28 Mei 2000 sekitar pukul
09.00 pagi. Saat kejadian itu, sebagian penghuni pesantren berada di sekolah madrasah di belakang masjid.

Muhammad Ilham dan beberapa teman-temannya tengah tiduran. Sekolah mereka memang telah diliburkan sejak meletusnya kerusuhan Poso Jilid III lima hari sebelumnya. Muhammad Ilham dan teman-temanya berjaga-jaga jika ada serangan.

Tiba-tiba dari arah jalan Trans Sulawesi, ratusan penyerang datang. Penghuni pesantren melawan sebisanya. Muhammad Ilham dan sejumlah temannya mundur dan bersembunyi di semak-semak belakang sekolah.
Namun, mereka kemudian balik menyerang setelah melihat sejumlah santri Walisongo ditangkap para penyerang.

Serangan balik Muhammad Ilham dan teman-temanya mampu memukul mundur para penyerang hingga ke jalan raya. Namun, pertempuran sengit terjadi saat bantuan penyerang tiba. Muhammad Ilham dan kawan-kawan terpukul mundur. Pria asal Jawa ini bahkan terkena peluru di bagian paha dan terjatuh.

Semua penghuni pesantren ditangkap. Mereka dibawa ke Baruga di Kelurahan Ranononcu, Kecamatan Lage. Di tempat ini. Muhammad Ilham mendapat siksaan luar biasa. Sekujur tubuhya dibacok oleh seorang perempuan, kemudian luka bacokan itu diisi tanah dan disiram air jeruk.

Minggu dinihari, Ilham dan sejumlah tawanan dibawa dengan truk ke sebuah dataran di dekat Sungai Poso. Mereka diturunkan satu per satu kemudian diperintah berjongkok lalu dibantai. Saat pembantaian ini
terjadi, Muhammad Ilham melihat peluang kecil untuk lolos. Dengan sekuat tenaga ia melompat ke sungai dan menyelam sejauh mungkin. Ia lolos dengan menyusuri pinggiran sungai hingga ke Poso Kota.

Meski tak melihat langsung wajah Tibo CS yang melakukan pembantaian itu, namun Muhammad Ilham mengaku ketiga terpidana mati ini aktif terlihat di lapangan. Bahkan, kata Muhammad Ilham, beberapa hari
sebelum penyerangan, Dominggus datang melakukan perundingan dengan pengurus pesantren bahwa mereka tidak akan menyerang pesantren.

Muhammad Ilham mengaku telah dikonfrontir dengan Fabianus Tibo CS. Namun, katanya, banyak hal yang disangkal ketiganya. Tapi, ia tetap yakin, Tibo cs memang bersalah. Pengakuan dan penyangkalan inilah
yang membuat pelaku kerusuhan Poso menjadi sebuah misteri.

Fabianus Tibo, satu dari tiga terpidana mati kasus kerusuhan Poso divonis mati pengadilan, karena dinilai orang yang paling bertanggungjawab atas pecahnya kerusuhan yang menyebabkan ratusan orang tewas dan ribuan warga mengungsi. Namun, di mata Nurlin Kasiala,
istrinya, Fabianus Tibo adalah suami dan ayah yang baik bagi isteri dan anak-anaknya. Istrinya yakin, suaminya itu bukanlah orang yang
bersalah. Suaminya itu hanyalah korban dari sebuah rekayasa para petinggi-petinggi di daerah ini. Bahkan, pihak Sinode Gereja Kristen Sulawesi Tengah (GKST) pun ikut terlibat dalam kerusuhan Poso. Meski kemudian, Ketua Sinode GKST, Pendeta Renaldy Damanik menampik
tudingan itu. Tapi yang pasti, saat ini Fabianus Tibo dan kedua kawannya tinggal menunggu hari.

Sekretaris Umum Majelis Sinode Gereja Kristen Sulawesi Tengah, Pendeta irianto Kongkoli, mengatakan bahwa sangat mustahil kalau ketiga orang yang petani dan bodoh itu menjadi aktor di balik kerusuhan Poso.

Yang harus diusut adalah para elite politik di Poso, yang karena ambisi menguasai kepemimpinan politik, lantas menyeret ketiga petani, Fabianus Tibo, Marinus Riwu dan Dominggus da Silva. "Ketiganya tidak bersalah," kata Pendeta Irianto Kongkoli.

Harun Nyak Itam Abu, salah seorang korban kerusuhan Poso, mengatakan bahwa dia memiliki sejumlah bukti dan saksi mengenai keterlibatan Fabianus Tibo, Marinus Riwu dan Dominggus da Silva. Menurutnya, pengakuan ketiganya bahwa mereka tak bersalah, adalah kebohongan yang besar.

Benar, kata anggota Tim Pengacara Muslim Poso ini, bahwa ketiganya bukanlah dalang dari kerusuhan Poso, tapi ketiganya telah memimpin pembunuhan ratusan warga muslim di Poso. "Apakah itu tidak cukup untuk menyeret mereka ke hadapan regu tembak? Mereka memang pantas mendaoat hukuman mati," kata Harun Nyak Itam Abu.

Apakah nanti eksekusi mati tetap dilakukan, ataukah ketiganya akan
bebas. Publik di Sulawesi Tengah tetap menunggu kepastian itu hingga setelah peringatan Hari Proklamasi 17 Agustus 2006. Bagi Farid Jafar Nasar dari Himpunan Pemuda Alkhairaat, ketetapan hukum harus benar-benar dijalankan.***


Kronologis Yang Menyeret Tibo CS.

23 Mei 2000
Penyerbuan kompleks Gereja Katolik Santa Theresia di Kelurahan Moengko Baru, Kabupaten Poso. Tiga orang tewas dan kompleks gereja ludes dilalap si jago merah. Tibo, Marinus dan Dominggus datang ke gereja itu untuk membawa suster dan anak-anak sekolah Katholik yang tinggal di situ.

28 Mei 2000
Penyerbuan Pesantren Wali Songo di Desa Sintuwu Lembah dan Desa Kayamaya di Kabupaten Poso. Tidak kurang dari 200 orang meninggal, ratusan luka-luka, dan ratusan rumah rusak.

25 Juli 2000
Pasukan Satuan Tugas Teritorial TNI Cinta Damai, menangkap Fabianus Tibo di Desa Jamur Jaya, Beteleme, Kabupaten Morowali. Ia dibawa ke Korem 132/Tadulako di Palu, kemudian diserahkan ke Polda Sulteng dan selanjutnya ditahan di Lembaga Pemasyarakatan Petobo, Palu.

31 Juli 2000
Dominggus da Silva dan Marinus Riwu menyerahkan diri, lima hari setelah Om Tibo ditangkap. Menyerahkan diri ke Kepolisian Sektor Beteleme, Morowali.

4 Desember 2000
Sidang pertama Tibo, Marinus, dan Dominggus digelar di Pengadilan Negeri Palu. Ketiganya didakwa melakukan pembunuhan berencana di sejumlah tempat di Poso pada pertengahan 2000.

15 Maret 2001
Jaksa penuntut umum A. Latara membacakan tuntutan hukuman mati bagi Tibo, Marinus, dan Dominggus.

4 April 2001
Tibo diperiksa polisi karena mengungkap beberapa nama yang terlibat dalam prahara Poso, Mei 2000.

5 April 2001
Majelis hakim Pengadilan Negeri Palu yang terdiri dari Soedarmo (ketua), Ferdinandus, dan Achmad Fauzi menghukum mati Tibo, Marinus, dan Dominggus.

17 Mei 2001
Pengadilan Tinggi menolak banding ketiga terdakwa dan memperkuat putusan majelis hakim Pengadilan Negeri Palu.

14 Juni 2001
Tim penasihat hukum ketiga terpidana mati mengajukan memori kasasi.

11 Oktober 2001
Mahkamah Agung menolak putusan kasasi Tibo. Marinus, dan Dominggus.

31 Maret 2004
Mahkamah Agung menolak permohonan peninjauan kembali yang diajukan ketiga terpidana mati.

September 2005
Tibo, Marinus, dan Dominggus mengajukan grasi ke presiden.

10 November 2005
Presiden Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono menandatangani penolakan grasi Tibo, Marinus, dan Dominggus.

1 Februari 2006
Keluarga terpidana kerusuhan Poso, Tibo cs, menyerahkan tiga bundel dokumen kepada Mabes Polri sebagai salah satu bukti keterlibatan 16 nama sebagai otak kerusuhan di Poso pada Mei 2000. Di antara 16 orang itu, terdapat nama Yanis Simangunsong dan Paulus Tungkanan.

20 Februari 2006
Tim pengacara Tibo, Marinus, dan Dominggus mengajukan permohonan peninjauan kembali yang kedua.

9 Maret 2006
Persidangan PK ke dua Tibo digelar di PN Palu. Dalam sidang ini, 9 saksi baru mengatakan bahwa Fabianus Tibo bukanlah pelaku dari pembunuhan, pembakaran dan penganiayaan di kompleks Wali Songo.

27 Maret 2006
Keluarga Tibo, Marinus, dan Dominggus mengajukan permohonan grasi kedua kepada Presiden Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

3 April 2006
Dua terhukum mati kasus kerusuhan Poso, Sulawesi Tengah, Fabianus Tibo dan Dominggus da Silva, diperiksa tim Direktorat Reserse dan Kriminal Polda Sulawesi Tengah. Pemeriksaan dilakukan karena Tibo dan kawan-kawan menyebut 16 aktor intelektual di balik rusuh Poso 2000 silam.

04 April 2006
Fabianus Tibo dan dua rekannya, mengajukan grasi yang kedua di Kejaksaan Agung melalui pengacaranya, Alamsyah Hanafiah. Pengacara meminta eksekusi hukuman mati ditunda karena Tibo menjadi saksi utama bagi penyidikan perkara itu.

9 April 2006
Sekitar 400 warga Kabupaten Poso, Sulawesi Tengah, kembali melakukan doa bersama untuk keselamatan Fabianus Tibo (60), Dominggus da Silva (39), dan Marinus Riwu (48). Mereka berharap rencana eksekusi Tibo dkk dibatalkan karena meyakini bahwa Tibo dkk tidak bersalah dalam kerusuhan Poso III.

11 April 2006
Rencana eksekusi terhadap tiga terpidana mati kasus kerusuhan Poso yakni Fabinaus Tibo, Dominggus da Silva, dan Marinus Riwu akhirnya ditunda. Alasannya menurut Kapolda Sulawesi Tengah Brigjen Pol Oegroseno, polisi masih akan melakukan konfrontasi terhadap 10 orang lainnya yang disebut oleh Tibo Cs sebagai dalang kerusuhan Poso.

13 April 2006
PK kedua TiBo sudah diterima MA, PK tersebut diregistrasi dengan Nomor 27 PK/Pid/2006.

17 April 2006
Presiden Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono menegaskan keputusan pengadilan memberikan hukuman mati kepada terpidana kasus kerusuhan Poso, Fabianus Tibo cs, merupakan keputusan pengadilan atau hukum, bukan keputusan politik.

9 Mei 2006
Mahkamah Agung (MA) tidak dapat menerima menolak peninjauan kembali (PK) kedua kasus Tibo, Dominggus da Silva, dan Marinus Riwu. Penolakan itu dengan dasar bahwa tiga terpidana telah menggunakan hak hukumnya hingga grasinya ditolak pada November 2005 lalu. Pengajuan PK kedua yang dilakukan oleh tiga terpidana mati kasus kerusuhan Poso menyalahi undang-undang. MA menilai saksi baru yang diajukan oleh pengacara dalam PK kedua itu bukan sebagai bukti baru.

10 Mei 2006
Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus Dasilva dan Marinus Riwu, mulai menginap di sel isolasi. Ketiganya kini sudah tidak satu bangsal, tapi sudah menempati kamar sendiri-sendiri. Menurut Kepala Divisi Pemasyarakatan Kanwil Kehakiman dan HAM Sulteng, Ma'as Damsik, ketiga terpidana mati tersebut sudah tak bisa ditemui kecuali kalau ada izin kari pihak Kejati Sulteng. Pihaknya, kata dia, sudah tak berwewenang mengeluarkan izin untuk ketemu Tibo cs.

10 Mei 2006
Aparat Kepolisan Poso membongkar kuburan di Desa Tambaro, Sintuwulembah, yang dianggap sebagai kuburan korban konflik Poso Mei 2000. Pembongkaran di daerah yang dikenal sebagai Kilo Sembilan, wilayah Pesantren Walisongo, itu ditemukan sejumlah tengkorak dan pakaian korban yang masih utuh. pembongkaran itu sebagai upaya untuk merekonstruksi kasus Kilo Sembilan yang menjadikan Fabianus Tibo cs sebagai terpidana mati. Seorang warga mengaku melihat ada enam tengkorak yang diambil dalam lubang yang kini sudah dianggap kuburan. Enam tengkorak itu diambil dari dua lobang kuburan yang berbeda.

8 Agustus 2006
Kejari Palu (Sulawesi Tengah), mengirimkan surat pelaksanaan eksekusi kepada keluarga Fabianus Tibo cs. Isi surat bernomor SR.65/R.2.10/Buh.1/8/2006 yang diteken Kajari Mohammad Basri Akib SH, menetapkan bahwa eksekusi mati terhadap Tibo, Marinus Riwu dan Dominggus da Silva, akan dilaksanakan Sabtu (12 Agustus), pukul 00.15 WITA.

11 Agustus 2005
Sekitar pukul 23.00 Waktu Indonesia Barat atau 24:00 Waktu Indonesia, Kapolri Jenderal Polisi Sutanto usai rapat terbatas di Kantor Presiden, Jalan Medan Medeka Utara menyatakan bahwa eksekusi ata Tibo cs ditunda hingga selesai perayaan peringatan Hari Ulang Tahun Proklamasi Kemerdekaan Repubik Indonesia. Kapolri Sutanto mengatakan bahwa eksesusi bukan dibatalkan, namun ditunda. Selain karena permintaan Muspida Sulawesi Tengah, juga karena peringatan HUT Proklamasi tesebut. Namun dikabarkan bahwa penundaan itu tekait dengan permintaan pemimpin tertinggi umat Katolik Dunia Paus Benedictus XVI kepada Presiden SBY. Paus meminta aga Presiden SBY memberikan klemensi kepada Tibo cs dari hukuman mati menjadi hukuman seumur hidup.***