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.

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

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.

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.

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.***

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). ***

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.

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.

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.***

Thousands protest Poso executions

National News - August 11, 2006

Ruslan Sangadji
The Jakarta Post
Kupang/Palu

Large rallies were held across East Nusa Tenggara on Thursday to protest the impending executions of Fabianus Tibo, Marianus Riwu and Dominggus da Silva for their roles in violence between Christians and Muslims in Central Sulawesi's Poso district.

In Kupang, the Peace and Truth Commission of the Kupang Diocese called on Catholics to pray at home for the safety of the three death-row convicts, who hail from East Nusa Tenggara.

Commission head Father Maxi Un Bria urged all believers to pray for the lives of the three men to be spared.

"A person's life and death is determined by God and not by bullets," Maxi said.

The foster father of Dominggus, Anselmus da Silva, said by telephone he was resigned to the fate of his son.

"We have exhausted every legal channel. We can only pray for the government to overturn the ruling. We are powerless in the face of the government," he said.

The Palu Prosecutor's Office has set the execution date for the three, who will die by firing squad this Saturday at 12:15 a.m. Their families said they had been notified of the date.

Central Sulawesi Police chief Brig. Gen. Oegroseno said Thursday he had received execution orders from the prosecutor's office. He added that his officers were ready to carry out the executions.

"We have prepared six firing squads, or 40 selected sharpshooters. They have been trained and they are psychologically prepared to carry out their duty," Oegroseno said.

In Tentena, Central Sulawesi, thousands of Christians held a rally Thursday morning to condemn the executions. The head of the Central Sulawesi Protestant Church (GKST) Synod, Rev. Renaldy Damanik, told The Jakarta Post the executions were unjust and inhumane.

"If the executions stand, we will cancel plans to plea for clemency for perpetrators of the Poso conflict. Anyone involved must be punished," Damanik said.

GKST secretary Rev. Irianto Kongkoli said that Fabianus Tibo's disclosure of the identities of several people believed to have masterminded the Poso violence received very little response from the authorities, and instead three innocent men were to be executed.

"I don't believe a farmer could have masterminded the conflict. They are only victims. The one who should be severely punished is Arief Patanga," Kongkoli said.

Arief Patanga was the Poso regent from 1992 to 1997. The Poso conflict began toward the end of his term. There have been allegations that in an attempt to win reelection he mobilized supporters, which eventually flared into religious violence.

The spokesman for the Central Sulawesi People's Coalition Against Violence (KoMa), Edmond Leonardo, voiced opposition to the use of capital punishment in Indonesia, including the execution of Tibo and his colleagues. He said the country had far more pressing problems to address, such as poverty and corruption.

Poso Center secretary Mahfud Masuara said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono should form an independent fact-finding team to gather objective, honest and thorough information on the violence that occurred in Poso from 1998 to 2006.

"This team should determine the facts relating to the controversial death sentence of Tibo and his friends, and recommend a proper and just legal solution. In this regard, the government should postpone their executions," Masuara said.

Robert Tibo, Fabianus Tibo's son, said he was convinced his father was innocent. "My father is a victim of the interests of selfish people in Poso."

Poso executions delayed until after Aug. 17

Ruslan Sangadji
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta/Palu

The scheduled execution of three Catholics in Palu, Central Sulawesi, was postponed at the eleventh hour Friday, with National Police chief Gen. Sutanto announcing it would be held after Independence Day celebrations.

The execution by firing squad of Fabianus Tibo, 68, Marianus Riwu, 48, and Dominggus da Silva, 38, was due to be held at 12:15 a.m. Saturday at an undisclosed location. The men, who were convicted for their roles in the Poso sectarian violence in 2000, received their last rites Friday.

But Sutanto was quoted as saying by detikcom newsportal in Jakarta that the execution was postponed until Aug. 20 at the earliest.

"The consideration was Aug. 17. So after that it will be held," he said after a limited Cabinet meeting late Friday that also included chief security minister Widodo A.S., Justice and Human Rights Minister Hamid Awaluddin and Attorney General Abdul Rahman Saleh.

Sutanto said the decision was based on consultation with the Central Sulawesi Police, local administration and prosecutor's office. However, he said it did not mean that the execution would be canceled.

"It's only a matter of the timing. The decision must be carried out, and those who are guilty must follow their sentence."

Security was tight Friday in Palu as thousands held a prayer vigil at the Gedung Juang building in the heart of the city to oppose the executions.

Pope Benedict XVI also appealed Friday to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to spare the lives of the men, AP reported. The appeal was sent via telegram by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Vatican's secretary of state.

The appeal was sent to the President to "seek your intervention on humanitarian grounds ... in order that an act of clemency might be granted to these three Catholic citizens of your nation". It noted the Catholic church opposes the death penalty.

The EU also called on the government not to carry out the punishment, while Amnesty International has expressed concerns about reports indicating the men's 2001 trial did not meet international standards of fairness.

Two analysts said the government was under pressure from conservative Muslims to go through with the executions because it was trying to speed up the executions of three Muslim militants on death row for the 2002 Bali bombings.

"This is a kind of crude barter so that the government can been seen as being fair to both communities," George Aditjondro, an academic who has studied the causes of the Sulawesi conflict, told AP. "There is national politics behind this."

Thamrin Amal Tomagola, another expert on the conflict, said prosecutors presented strong evidence the men were involved in the bloodshed, including the massacre of Muslim men, women and children sheltering at a boarding school.

But he said the men, who were uneducated farmers, were not the ringleaders and killing them would mean the state was losing valuable witnesses in later prosecutions. "I am concerned they are being made the fall guys," he told AP.

In the Central Sulawesi town of Tentena, Christian protesters against the execution took local prosecutor Thomas and two of his staff hostage to highlight their demand.

In the North Sumatra city of Manado and East Nusa Tenggara cities of Kupang, Belu, East Flores, Maumere and Timor Tengah Utara, thousands of residents thronged the streets, staging peaceful protests or mass prayers.

In Maumere, Catholic leader Bishop Vinsensius Sensi Potokoa, as well as other religious and public figures, urged Yudhoyono to set the men free. "Tibo is not guilty. There's no other excuse but to drop the execution...," he said.

Warga Muslim Poso Ancam Unjukrasa Besar-besaran

Ruslan Sangadji

Sejumlah warga muslim di Poso dan Palu menyatakan kecewa, atas penundaan pelaksanaan eksekusi mati terhadap tiga terpidana kasus kerusuhan Poso, Fabianus Tibo, Marinus Riwu dan Dominggus da Silva.

Dikhawatirkan, penundaan itu karena adanya intervensi dari pihak luar, dan boleh jadi justru akan membatalkan eksekusi mati terhadap ketiga warga asal
Frolres tersebut.

Ustadz Adnan Arsal, ketua Forum Silaturahmi dan Perjuangan Umat Islam Poso, kepada The Jakarta Post, Sabtu (12/8) menegaskan, jika eksekusi mati tidak dilaksanakan, maka seluruh umat Islam dari Poso dan Tojo Una-Una akan menggelar aksi unjukrasa
besar-besaran.

"Jadi kita tetap menunggu saja sampai setelah peringatan hari Proklamasi 17 Agustus nanti. Jika tidak dilaksanakan sesuai janji Kapolri, itu sama saja dengan menyakiti hati umat Islam yang keluarganya menjadi korban saat konflik Poso," tegas Ustadz Adnan Arsal.

Menurut Ustadz Adnan Arsal, hukuman mati terhadap Fabianus Tibo, Marinus Riwu dan Dominggus da Silva, sudah memiliki kekuatan hukum tetap, sehingga tidak ada alasan untuk membatalkannya.

Nyak Harun Itam Abu, salah seorang korban kerusuhan Poso yang juga tim pengacara Muslim Poso, kepada The Jakarta Post di kediamannya di Palu, menegaskan bahwa
Fabianus Tibo, Marinus Riwu dan Dominggus da Silva, memang bukan sebagai otak kerusuhaan, tapi merekalah pelaku pembunuhan ratusan umat Islam di Poso.

"Kita punya saksi dan bukti yang kuat, jadi tidak ada alasan bagi ketiganya untuk mengatakan kalau mereka tidak bersalah. Mereka bersalah dan sesuai ketetapan hukum, harus dihukum mati," kata Nyak Harun Itam Abu.

Rohaniawan ketiga terpidana mati, Pastor Jimmy Tumbelaka, menyatakan kesyukurannya atas penundaan eksekusi tersebut. Itu berarti masih ada upaya untuk dapat mengungkap bagaimana kejadian sebenarnya di Poso.

Pastor Jimmy Tumbelaka juga berharap, dengan penundaan ini, berarti semakin membuka jalan bagi polisi terus melakukan investigasi atas sejumlah pengakuan yang sudah disampaikan oleh Fabianus Tibo, Marinus Riwu dan Dominggus da Silva.

Dari Tentena, Poso, aktivis Solidaritas Masyarakat Anti Hukuman Mati, Lian Gogali melalui telepon kepada The Jakarta Post, menjelaskan bahwa mereka agak lega dengan adanya penundaan eksekusi terhadap ketiga terpidana mati tersebut.

Namun demikian, tuntutan mereka bukan penundaan, tapi penghapusan hukuman mati di Indonesia, karena itu melanggar Hak Azasi Manusia. "Tak ada satu pun manusia yang diberikan hak untuk mengakhiri kehidupan orang lain. Jadi, hukuman mati harus dihapus di Tanah Air ini," tegasnya.

Lian Gogali juga mengatakan, pembatalan hukuman mati itu, tidak hanya kepada tiga terpidana kasus kerusuhan Poso, tapi juga kepada Amrozi dan Imam Samudra. "kepada keduanya juga harus dibebaskan dari hukuman mati," kata Lian Gogali.

Sementara itu, pada detik-detik menjelang eksekusi mati yang akhirnya ditunda itu, suasana di Kota Palu tampak begitu tegang. Di kantor Kejaksaan Negeri Palu telah tersedia tiga peti jenazah dan jas untuk ketiga terpidana mati. Pun halnya dengan 40 orang regu tembak yang sudah siaga di salah satu ruangan khusus.

Anggota regu tembak ini, sedang bersiap-siap menunggu jemputan dari pasukan Brimob Polda Sulteng, untuk selanjutnya menjemput Fabianus Tibo, Marinus Riwu dan Dominggus da Silva, guna dibawa ke lokasi eksekusi.

Tapi, setelah Kepala Kejaksaan Negeri Palu, Mohammad Basri Akib, menerima telepon Kepala Kejaksaan Tinggi Sulawesi Tengah, Yahya Sibe bahwa eksekusi ditunda, para jaksa dan polisi yang siaga di kantor itu pun membubarkan diri. Sedangkan regu tembak dibawa kembali ke markas mereka.

Kapolda Sulawesi Tengah, Brigadir Jenderal Polisi Oegroseno mengatakan, penundaan itu atas keputusan Muspida Sulawesi Tengah. Alasannya, agar ketiganya dapat merayakan Hari Kemerdeakaan Republik Indonesia yang tinggal beberapa hari lagi ini. "Jadi, tidak ada alasan politik," tegasnya. ***

Yus Mangun: Onion farmer and refugee supporter

Ruslan Sangadji
The Jakarta Post
Palu, Central Sulawesi

With a bombastic way of expressing himself, he looks highly enthusiastic and is always ready for a lively discussion on topical regional and national issues.

Forty-eight-year old, Poso-born Yus Mangun, a member of Central Sulawesi legislative assembly representing Poso electoral area, is now chairman of its commission that deals with government and security affairs.

Although he has lived in Palu for a long time, he still maintains a close relationship with his birthplace, Poso.

Yus believes he must pay a lot of attention to the area. In 2000, when sectarian conflict was still raging in Poso, thousands of local people had to migrate to other areas for safety. During those hard times Yus helped organize the exodus.

Using his own money and a donation from the government, Yus, assisted by colleagues from Poso, sheltered Poso refugees in his house and at the Central Sulawesi Graha Pemuda (Youth Building).

Subsequently, he was nicknamed the "Father of Poso refugees".

Yus often had to deal with refugees who caused problems. Once he penalized a person who obstinately insisted on returning to Poso to take part in the sectarian conflict.

The man was denied his food rations for two days. "I did that to prevent other refugees from taking part in the conflict in Poso," he said.

Night and day, Yus, now a father of three, worked indefatigably for less fortunate Poso people: men, women, the young and elderly. He was so committed he often left home for days at a time and was absent from the assembly while taking care of refugees.

Between 2000 and 2001 it was common to see hundreds of people waiting in line in front of Yus' house on Jl. Tombolotutu, East Palu, for their food rations. In fact, the rations should properly have been distributed at government offices, such as the offices of the Central Sulawesi governor or of the local social welfare service.

Once, police raided Yus' house on suspicion that he was stashing guns, ammunition and other weapons; they found only sacks of rice for Poso refugees.

Yus, who is married to Ibu Suprapti, now concentrates on the Central Sulawesi legislative assembly, although he still engages in debate on how best to settle problems of the sectarian conflict in Poso and deal with refugee affairs.

While devoting himself to Poso, Yus began another business venture.

In late 2001, with Rp 35 million cash as capital and a three-hectare plot of land in a mountainous area that he had bought in the 1980s, he decided to grow red onions, a species that grows only in Central Sulawesi.

The onions, once harvested form the basis of a popular fried snack.

At first the people of Palu, particularly onion growers and Central Sulawesi agricultural service, thought him crazy for his decision to grow onions in such a dry place. Still, he wanted to prove the old adage that where there's a will, there's a way.

So, assisted by his wife and two nephews from Poso, he cultivated his dry plot. Every day he removed weeds from the land and did the hoeing by himself.

He dug to a depth of seven meters to obtain water for his plantation. His fair skin grew dark due to prolonged exposure to intense sunshine. The smooth skin of his hands turned rough because he did the hoeing every day himself.

Three months later, onions were planted in the land and in the following three months he enjoyed the harvest, and a profit of Rp 10 million. "I was really surprised at how profitable it was," he said.

The successful maiden onion harvest caught the eye of the local administration. They enabled him to access water from the Poboya mountain range for his plantation, a distance of some 11 kilometers.

The water was also intended for the headquarters of a unit of Central Sulawesi provincial police that lay close to his plantation.

Yus, a graduate of the economics school at Tadulaku University, Palu, has put the business knowledge he has thus acquired to good use. He asked 28 nearby families without regular employment to team up with him.

He has given each family four parcels of land to grow onions by themselves. Yus, of course, provides the start-up capital. Profits are shared equally between the families and Yus.

The cooperation has worked well. Every quarter there is a harvest, and the families working with Yus can make a profit of up to Rp 4 million.

Yus, who makes about Rp 2 million to Rp 2.5 million per harvest, now has an impressive house at his plantation.

For his wife he has built a garden that produces a wide variety of flowering plants. They are sold at Rp 100,000 to Rp 3 million per plant.

His success with the onion plantation has earned Yus a new title: Onion Farmer, as he now widely known. He is popular in Palu because he can get on with practically anyone, regardless of their social status.

Governor invites investors to 'peaceful' Central Sulawesi

Ruslan Sangadji
The Jakarta Post
Palu

Conflict-scarred Central Sulawesi is now peaceful and needs investors to help rebuild it and begin important infrastructure projects, its governor says.

Bandjela Paliudju told The Jakarta Post during the weekend that the provincial government was working hard to smooth the way for investors so that much-needed work could begin.

"The conflict is over now ... and we're heading for a process of rehabilitation and reconstruction, especially in the hardest-hit Poso regency. So, if investors are willing to enter Central Sulawesi, we will guarantee them a simpler investment application process," Paliudju said.

The governor said there was still only a small number of investors in the province, despite the many opportunities it offered.

Oil and gas reserves are now being seriously developed in the Tiaka fields and the Senoro-Toili block in Banggai regency, he said.

The province is also rich in mineral resources and metals like coal, nickel, gold, copper and granite, he said.

Quoting reports from state oil company Pertamina, Paliudju said operations in Tiaka had already shipped 75,000 barrels of crude oil to the Plaju oil cracker in Riau this year, part of the 155,377 barrels of crude the field had produced since December 2005.

The Tiaka oil field jointly operated by Pertamina and Medco E&Tomori Sulawesi started production on July 31 of that year, he said.

Crude production at the field has already reached 2,000 barrels a day and could be raised to 5,000 barrels a day in stages, he said.

The fields when fully tapped could produce around 10 million barrels of crude oil, while the nearby Senoro field was predicted to have gas reserves of up to 3.7 trillion cubic feet, he said.

There are also significant commercial coal reserves in the Morowali and Donggala regencies, he said.

"There is great potential here. However, these resources have been left practically untouched because of the lengthy conflict. But now, the conflict is over and security is conducive," he said.

Data showed in 2000 the provincial administration approved 86 domestic investment projects with combined commitments of Rp 7.40 billion (US$778,947), 31 foreign projects worth US$124 million and another seven foreign projects worth Rp 23.04 billion.

In 2003, the number of domestic investment projects reached 34 with combined investment commitments of Rp 2.39 trillion, 13 foreign investment projects worth $166.10 million and four other foreign projects valued at Rp 13.13 billion.