The Jakarta Post, Palu, Central Sulawesi/Jakarta
The Supreme Court has finally agreed to a second case review for three men on death row in Poso, Central Sulawesi, although officials say its outcome would not change their sentence for masterminding sectarian violence in 2001.
Supreme Court spokesman Djoko Sarwoko announced Monday that a five-member panel of judges would deliberate the second case review of Fabianus Tibo, Marinus Riwu and Dominggus da Silva, three Christians accused of orchestrating the murders of local Muslims.
The Attorney General's Office has issued a stay of execution, citing unfinished preparations, but it has denied the order was connected to widespread protests demanding the authorities investigate other suspected leaders of the strife.
The justices will be headed by Mariana Sutadi, with members including Djoko, Timur B. Manurung, Harifin A. Tumpa and Paulus Effendi Lotulung.
"Because this is a second case review, the committee members are different from the first one," Djoko said.
He said that although the Criminal Code stated there could only be one case review, judges could not deny a request for a second because there was no relevant law or regulation. He referred to a recent case review in the election of the mayor of Depok in Greater Jakarta, which was finally granted by the Supreme Court.
Supreme Court Justice Bagir Manan earlier this month turned down the defendants' requests for a second case review, saying that all legal procedures had been exhausted. The court had upheld the verdict of the Palu High Court, and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had rejected the defendants' request for clemency.
However, the Supreme Court's decision does not change their death sentence, Attorney General's Office spokesman Masyhudi Ridwan said. He also referred to the above Criminal Code procedure and said his office would not be able to accept any new ruling.
"So we're still preparing the execution, not delaying it," he told The Jakarta Post.
Djoko acknowledged that the law must be upheld, but said a stay of execution was the most appropriate course of action.
"It's for the best that there be a stay of execution until the case review is settled. I can't imagine (what would happen) if the case review was granted and the execution had already been carried out."
Catholic scholar Franz Magnis-Suseno visited the convicts Monday in Palu prison, saying he favored the abolition of capital punishment.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Tibo links synod council to Poso attacks
Ruslan Sangaji, The Jakarta Post, Palu
Fabianus Tibo, one of three men on death row for their roles in the attacks that killed some 200 Muslims six years ago in Poso, Central Sulawesi, has accused the Synod Council of the Central Sulawesi Christian Church (GKST) of involvement in the violence.
"Most people in Poso know about the GKST's involvement in the violence. It is very strange the police did not investigate them," Tibo told journalists Saturday at the prison in Palu, Central Sulawesi, where he is awaiting execution.
He claimed that whenever members of the council went to "war", they gathered in front of the church in Tentena district near Poso to ask for a blessing.
"Several priests who were also synod council members prayed for them," he said.
Tibo demanded police arrest the members of the GKST he accused of being involved in the violence, and release him and Dominggus da Silva and Don Marinus Riwu, who were also sentenced to death for the attacks.
The head of the synod council, the Reverend Renaldy Damanik, denied his organization's involvement in the sectarian violence. However, he acknowledged that some rogue elements within the council might have played a role in masterminding the violence.
"The job of the synod council is dealing with our congregation. We promote peace in the world and campaigned to stop the bloodshed in Poso," Renaldy said.
When Tibo was arrested in 2001, he accused former synod council leader Agustina Lumentut of involvement in the attacks.
Tibo told authorities that Agustina had asked him not to reveal the council's involvement in the conflict.
He claims Agustina promised he would be released in three days if he did not tell investigators about the council's role in the violence. However, Tibo was sentenced to death in 2001.
Agustina subsequently moved away from Tentena and passed away in 2003.
Tibo also told authorities several other Poso figures were involved in the conflict, including Paulus Tungkanan, Erick Rombot, Limpadeli and Christian Red Troop commander Angki Tungkanan.
They were seen at the scenes of the attack, Tibo claimed. "All of these people are still in Tentena and are active members of the synod council board and the Sintuwu Maroso Youth Force."
The Poso Three, as the three men on death row have come to be known, earlier accused 16 men, including some of these local figures, of masterminding the religious violence.
Speaking at the same time, Da Silva urged the police to arrest former Poso regency secretary Yahya Pattiro for his alleged role in the unrest.
"When an attack occurred, he (Yahya) made a call to the GKST church. I answered the phone and he told me he was looking for (Angki) Tungkanan, who was not present," he said.
Da Silva said Yahya then asked him to tell Tungkanan to block off the road to military troops being deployed from Palopo, South Sulawesi.
He said this proved Yahya's involvement in the conflict, because he was giving orders to the Red Troop commander.
Heri Mengkawa, who is serving a 12-year jail sentence for his involvement in the Poso violence, also alleged Yahya played a role in the conflict.
The former regency secretary has denied on a number of occasions any involvement in the violence.
Central Sulawesi Police chief Comr. Gen. Oegroseno said the authorities had run into trouble trying to find evidence that the 16 men identified by Tibo and the two other convicts had masterminded the Poso attacks.
However, he promised to follow up on all allegations and question those identified by Tibo.***
Fabianus Tibo, one of three men on death row for their roles in the attacks that killed some 200 Muslims six years ago in Poso, Central Sulawesi, has accused the Synod Council of the Central Sulawesi Christian Church (GKST) of involvement in the violence.
"Most people in Poso know about the GKST's involvement in the violence. It is very strange the police did not investigate them," Tibo told journalists Saturday at the prison in Palu, Central Sulawesi, where he is awaiting execution.
He claimed that whenever members of the council went to "war", they gathered in front of the church in Tentena district near Poso to ask for a blessing.
"Several priests who were also synod council members prayed for them," he said.
Tibo demanded police arrest the members of the GKST he accused of being involved in the violence, and release him and Dominggus da Silva and Don Marinus Riwu, who were also sentenced to death for the attacks.
The head of the synod council, the Reverend Renaldy Damanik, denied his organization's involvement in the sectarian violence. However, he acknowledged that some rogue elements within the council might have played a role in masterminding the violence.
"The job of the synod council is dealing with our congregation. We promote peace in the world and campaigned to stop the bloodshed in Poso," Renaldy said.
When Tibo was arrested in 2001, he accused former synod council leader Agustina Lumentut of involvement in the attacks.
Tibo told authorities that Agustina had asked him not to reveal the council's involvement in the conflict.
He claims Agustina promised he would be released in three days if he did not tell investigators about the council's role in the violence. However, Tibo was sentenced to death in 2001.
Agustina subsequently moved away from Tentena and passed away in 2003.
Tibo also told authorities several other Poso figures were involved in the conflict, including Paulus Tungkanan, Erick Rombot, Limpadeli and Christian Red Troop commander Angki Tungkanan.
They were seen at the scenes of the attack, Tibo claimed. "All of these people are still in Tentena and are active members of the synod council board and the Sintuwu Maroso Youth Force."
The Poso Three, as the three men on death row have come to be known, earlier accused 16 men, including some of these local figures, of masterminding the religious violence.
Speaking at the same time, Da Silva urged the police to arrest former Poso regency secretary Yahya Pattiro for his alleged role in the unrest.
"When an attack occurred, he (Yahya) made a call to the GKST church. I answered the phone and he told me he was looking for (Angki) Tungkanan, who was not present," he said.
Da Silva said Yahya then asked him to tell Tungkanan to block off the road to military troops being deployed from Palopo, South Sulawesi.
He said this proved Yahya's involvement in the conflict, because he was giving orders to the Red Troop commander.
Heri Mengkawa, who is serving a 12-year jail sentence for his involvement in the Poso violence, also alleged Yahya played a role in the conflict.
The former regency secretary has denied on a number of occasions any involvement in the violence.
Central Sulawesi Police chief Comr. Gen. Oegroseno said the authorities had run into trouble trying to find evidence that the 16 men identified by Tibo and the two other convicts had masterminded the Poso attacks.
However, he promised to follow up on all allegations and question those identified by Tibo.***
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Police officer named suspect in Poso shooting
Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Palu
The Central Sulawesi Police have named a police officer a suspect in last year's nonfatal shooting of two female high school students in the conflict-torn city of Poso.
Provincial police chief Brig. Gen. Oegroseno confirmed that an officer, whom he identified only as a first brigadier with the initials IL, had been named a suspect and was being detained for questioning.
"It's true. We have named him a suspect and have held him in prison since Tuesday," Oegroseno said Wednesday.
He said that if the officer was found to have been involved in the shooting of the schoolgirls, identified as Ivon Natalia and Siti Nuraini, both 18, he would be given the heaviest punishment possible.
Oegroseno said investigators were looking for evidence in the case, including the gun used in the shooting, as well as exploring possible motives, whether it was meant to spread terror in Poso or was a personal attack.
He said the suspect would remain in detention for about 120 days while his case file was completed. "If there's no evidence that he is responsible for the shooting, he will be released," Oegroseno said.
Officers named the first brigadier a suspect following a presentation on the case by a joint team from the National Police and the Central Sulawesi Police several days ago.
The presentation was made after the two victims told authorities their attacker was a member of the Poso Police and identified him by name.
The shooting took place Nov. 8 last year, as Ivon and Siti were sitting in front of one of the girl's houses in Kasintuwu district, Poso. A motorcycle approached and shots were fired. Though both girls were injured, they managed to catch a look at the shooter's face.
"Although it was very painful, I managed to look up and saw his face. I was surprised because I knew him," Ivon told journalists after testifying recently at the office of the non-governmental group Poso Center.
Immediately after the shooting, police in Poso arrested three people, Ismet, alias Metu, David and Aksan.
However, all three were released because of a lack of evidence connecting them to the attack. Ismet reportedly had to be hospitalized at a mental institution after his release, which his family said was the result of physical abuse he suffered while in custody.
Last month, the government extended a security operation in Poso, where more than 1,000 people died in religious violence between 2000 and 2001. The operation was extended for three months because of continued tension in the area, but no new troops or police will be brought in.
About 4,000 police officers and soldiers were deployed to restore order in Central Sulawesi in 2005 after a series of shootings and bombings in the region.***
The Central Sulawesi Police have named a police officer a suspect in last year's nonfatal shooting of two female high school students in the conflict-torn city of Poso.
Provincial police chief Brig. Gen. Oegroseno confirmed that an officer, whom he identified only as a first brigadier with the initials IL, had been named a suspect and was being detained for questioning.
"It's true. We have named him a suspect and have held him in prison since Tuesday," Oegroseno said Wednesday.
He said that if the officer was found to have been involved in the shooting of the schoolgirls, identified as Ivon Natalia and Siti Nuraini, both 18, he would be given the heaviest punishment possible.
Oegroseno said investigators were looking for evidence in the case, including the gun used in the shooting, as well as exploring possible motives, whether it was meant to spread terror in Poso or was a personal attack.
He said the suspect would remain in detention for about 120 days while his case file was completed. "If there's no evidence that he is responsible for the shooting, he will be released," Oegroseno said.
Officers named the first brigadier a suspect following a presentation on the case by a joint team from the National Police and the Central Sulawesi Police several days ago.
The presentation was made after the two victims told authorities their attacker was a member of the Poso Police and identified him by name.
The shooting took place Nov. 8 last year, as Ivon and Siti were sitting in front of one of the girl's houses in Kasintuwu district, Poso. A motorcycle approached and shots were fired. Though both girls were injured, they managed to catch a look at the shooter's face.
"Although it was very painful, I managed to look up and saw his face. I was surprised because I knew him," Ivon told journalists after testifying recently at the office of the non-governmental group Poso Center.
Immediately after the shooting, police in Poso arrested three people, Ismet, alias Metu, David and Aksan.
However, all three were released because of a lack of evidence connecting them to the attack. Ismet reportedly had to be hospitalized at a mental institution after his release, which his family said was the result of physical abuse he suffered while in custody.
Last month, the government extended a security operation in Poso, where more than 1,000 people died in religious violence between 2000 and 2001. The operation was extended for three months because of continued tension in the area, but no new troops or police will be brought in.
About 4,000 police officers and soldiers were deployed to restore order in Central Sulawesi in 2005 after a series of shootings and bombings in the region.***
Saturday, April 08, 2006
Poverty programs have 'little impact'
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The many poverty reduction programs the government implemented in 2005 took only a million people out of absolute poverty, a survey reveals.
Data collected by the Office of the Coordinating Minister for Social Welfare made available to The Jakarta Post on Friday, said 19 ministries and government agencies implemented 55 poverty reduction programs worth a total of Rp 23.1 trillion (US$2.34 billion).
The programs succeeded reducing the number of people classed as extremely poor in the country from 36.1 million in 2004 to 35.1 million in 2005, the data says.
Despite the minor reduction in the overall number of people in poverty, the number of people in urban centers classed as poor increased by 14 million in 2005, the data says.
An official from the Office of the Coordinating Minister for Social Welfare said many of the programs were unable to reach their targets.
"We are now reviewing which programs failed and which succeeded. We will announce the results in June," welfare ministry deputy Sujana Royat, said.
Sujana said 10 programs would be dropped and another 10 would win more support after the review, to be overseen by chief welfare minister Aburizal Bakrie. "This is to show that we are serious in reducing poverty." Infrastructure projects targeting the poor had the least effect, Sujana said.
Of all government agencies tasked with implementing poverty reduction programs in 2005, the education, health and public works ministries and the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) received the most funding -- a total of Rp 18 trillion.
After his election in 2004, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the government planned to halve poverty in the nation by 2009.
State Minister of National Development Planning head Paskah Suzzetta recently told Antara in Makassar that Indonesia aimed at achieving "zero poverty" by 2015 as part of its United Nation's Millennium Development Goals.
The government's critics say the targets are highly unrealistic, and point to increasing unemployment and a rising cost of living as likely reasons the poor will stay poor here.
Neither would the projected economic growth rate, a modest 6 percent per annum, be enough to create sufficient jobs for the two to three million people entering the workforce every year, they said.
Welfare ministry statistics show there are still 28,000 "disadvantaged villages" in over 199 regencies throughout the country.
The lingering economic crisis, underfunding, official mismanagement and corruption and a lack of coordination among state welfare agencies are frequently blamed for a succession of governments' failures to reduce the nation's poverty rate.***
The many poverty reduction programs the government implemented in 2005 took only a million people out of absolute poverty, a survey reveals.
Data collected by the Office of the Coordinating Minister for Social Welfare made available to The Jakarta Post on Friday, said 19 ministries and government agencies implemented 55 poverty reduction programs worth a total of Rp 23.1 trillion (US$2.34 billion).
The programs succeeded reducing the number of people classed as extremely poor in the country from 36.1 million in 2004 to 35.1 million in 2005, the data says.
Despite the minor reduction in the overall number of people in poverty, the number of people in urban centers classed as poor increased by 14 million in 2005, the data says.
An official from the Office of the Coordinating Minister for Social Welfare said many of the programs were unable to reach their targets.
"We are now reviewing which programs failed and which succeeded. We will announce the results in June," welfare ministry deputy Sujana Royat, said.
Sujana said 10 programs would be dropped and another 10 would win more support after the review, to be overseen by chief welfare minister Aburizal Bakrie. "This is to show that we are serious in reducing poverty." Infrastructure projects targeting the poor had the least effect, Sujana said.
Of all government agencies tasked with implementing poverty reduction programs in 2005, the education, health and public works ministries and the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) received the most funding -- a total of Rp 18 trillion.
After his election in 2004, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the government planned to halve poverty in the nation by 2009.
State Minister of National Development Planning head Paskah Suzzetta recently told Antara in Makassar that Indonesia aimed at achieving "zero poverty" by 2015 as part of its United Nation's Millennium Development Goals.
The government's critics say the targets are highly unrealistic, and point to increasing unemployment and a rising cost of living as likely reasons the poor will stay poor here.
Neither would the projected economic growth rate, a modest 6 percent per annum, be enough to create sufficient jobs for the two to three million people entering the workforce every year, they said.
Welfare ministry statistics show there are still 28,000 "disadvantaged villages" in over 199 regencies throughout the country.
The lingering economic crisis, underfunding, official mismanagement and corruption and a lack of coordination among state welfare agencies are frequently blamed for a succession of governments' failures to reduce the nation's poverty rate.***
Friday, April 07, 2006
Muslim figures back stay of execution for Poso 3
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.***
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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