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.