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."