Families of Poso three follow men's last wishes

National News - September 30, 2006
Ruslan Sangadji and Yemris Fointuna
The Jakarta Post, Palu, Kupang

Relatives of executed Poso convicts Fabianus Tibo and Marinus Riwu fulfilled the last wishes of the two Friday while the family of Dominggus da Silva has decided to postpone its plan to exhume his body for an autopsy until the end of the 40-day mourning period.

Relatives of Fabianus Tibo and Marinus Riwu, who were executed last Friday along with Dominggus da Silva for inciting violence against Muslims in Central Sulawesi in 2000, returned the coffins provided by the Central Sulawesi Prosecutor's Office.

The coffins were returned in compliance with Tibo and Marinus' last wish, to reject all facilities provided by the state following their execution in Palu despite appeals for clemency and criticism from human rights groups.

An entourage of three cars, including two ambulances carrying the coffins, arrived at the office at 1 p.m. after a 10-hour trip from Beteleme, Morowali regency, led by Rev. Renaldy Damanik.

But since the office's entrance was closed, they dropped the two coffins right in front of it.

Damanik said he could not take the executions last Friday and was only following the Poso three's dying wish.

The family also returned two suits, two pairs of shoes and ties.

After waiting for half an hour and it was clear the prosecutor's office was not going to receive them, the entourage left the open coffins, which emitted a foul odor, right at the entrance.

Meanwhile, in Sikka regency's capital Maumere in East Nusa Tenggara, da Silva's family has decided to postpone the plan to exhume his body for a second autopsy until the 40-day mourning period is over.

The change in plans was approved by the leader of the family, H.E. da Silva, and da Silva's adoptive father Anselmus da Silva.

"The family stands by its earlier decision to uphold justice. But since we have to perform rituals and pray for Dominggus, the family is postponing the plan until the 40 days of prayers for Dominggus is completed," family spokesman Patrik da Silva said from Maumere when contacted Friday.

He said the decision would allow the family to pray without any disruption.

"Everything that relates to our customs is in the hands of the leader so the family has decided to postpone the plan which was scheduled for the end of this week," Patrik said.

National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Paulus Purwoko said Thursday the family of da Silva had dropped a plan to exhume his body for an autopsy to determine whether he was tortured before his execution.

"I heard a report from East Nusa Tenggara Police that da Silva's family has canceled the plan to exhume his body," Paulus said as quoted by Antara news agency.

He said he did not know why the family had dropped the plan but assumed it was because religious figures had convinced the family that da Silva was not tortured before the execution.

Da Silva was originally buried in Palu, Central Sulawesi, after an autopsy was performed by local officials. His body was then exhumed upon the request of his lawyers and church members. A wake was held at the local Catholic church and the body was sent back to da Silva's hometown of Maumere for burial.