Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Palu, Jakarta
Representatives of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and the country's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama are calling for a stay of execution for three Poso death-row convicts until the men's claims of innocence can be fully examined.
Their stance contradicts the demand of several Muslim student groups in Central Sulawesi, who are seeking the quick execution of the three Christians convicted of masterminding the killing of 200 Muslims during vicious sectarian violence in 2000.
The Supreme Court this week dismissed a second case review for the men because their avenues of legal recourse had been exhausted, including an appeal for a presidential pardon turned down last year.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has yet to respond to a second plea for clemency filed on the men's behalf.
MUI North Sulawesi chairman Arifin Assegaf, accompanied by Palu parish head Melky Toreh and his Tentena counterpart Jemmy Tumakaka, visited Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus da Silva and Marinus Riwu at Petobo penitentiary here Thursday. The men contend they fought for Christian militants but did not orchestrate killings.
Arifin said the men deserved the chance to bring their evidence -- alleging that 16 others were the masterminds -- before a court of law. Some contend high-ranking military personnel stoked the unrest by supplying arms to both sides.
Arifin urged the government to postpone the execution until more eyewitness accounts were heard and their claims were fully investigated.
"I believe a full investigation into these 16 people will result in fresh findings about people who've put Poso in conflict. My data shows there are other people besides the 16," he said.
He was later joined by MUI Central Sulawesi chairman Saiyid Saggaf Aljufrie, who agreed with Arifin about the imposing of a stay of execution.
"I think what he said is more than enough. I agree with what he said," said Aljufrie.
In Jakarta, NU leader Masdar Farid Mas'udi urged the President to intervene to prevent the executions until there was incontrovertible evidence of the men's guilt.
"Although in legal terms the case has been settled, many clouds still hang over it that must be revealed. The accusation of three people murdering over 200 others is hard to fathom," he said.
Masdar warned that the inflammatory religious and ethnic issues of the conflict could be revived by the men's execution.
"A hasty decision will only exacerbate (problems of) religious relations in Poso. A death penalty is irreversible, so it's best avoided when there are still doubts," he said.
Central Sulawesi Prosecutor's Office head Yahya Sibe said the government would press ahead with the executions.
"It's a fixed decision ... a mandate of the law," he said, adding that he would not make a prior announcement of the time and place of the executions by firing squad.***
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