Post by Anja Nieser on Sept 20, 2006 15:30:35 GMT -5
Amnesty expresses dismay over impending Indonesian executions
Amnesty International expressed dismay Wednesday over plans by the
Indonesian government to execute 3 Christian death row prisoners this
week, defying an earlier papal plea for clemency.
"Amnesty International is deeply disappointed to hear that Fabianus Tibo,
Dominggus da Silva and Marianus Riwu may be executed this week," the
international rights group said in an emailed statement to AFP.
"It is shocking to hear that the executions are going ahead despite the
high level of debate the case has sparked across the country about the use
of the death penalty."
The trio of peasant farmers were convicted in 2001 of leading a Christian
militia which carried out grisly murders of Muslims in religiously-divided
Central Sulawesi. They are due to be executed by firing squad on Thursday.
International rights groups and activists have argued that their trials
were unfair and have left the masterminds roaming free.
Some Indonesians also fear that their cases have been politicised and
effectively linked with those of 3 Islamic militants who also await
execution for their roles in the deadly 2002 Bali bombings.
Indonesia is the worlds most populous Muslim nation, but Christians and
Muslims live in roughly equal numbers in Central Sulawesi, where police
have boosted security ahead of the executions.
"The organisation believes that the use of the death penalty is inherently
an injustice and we urge the President of Indonesia to follow the recent
moves in Southeast Asia for the abolition of the death penalty by granting
clemency to the 3 men and all other prisoners currently sentenced to death
in Indonesia," the Amnesty statement added.
The executions of the trio would be the 1st since May 2005 in Indonesia,
when a convicted murderer faced the firing squad.
The 3 Christians were initially readied for execution last month, but were
granted a last-minute reprieve after Pope Benedict issued a plea for mercy
to the Indonesian government, though authorities denied there was a
connection.
Clashes between Muslims and Christians in 2000 and 2001 left more than
1,000 dead in Central Sulawesi. A government-brokered peace accord largely
ended widespread unrest, but sporadic violence has persisted.
Amnesty International expressed dismay Wednesday over plans by the
Indonesian government to execute 3 Christian death row prisoners this
week, defying an earlier papal plea for clemency.
"Amnesty International is deeply disappointed to hear that Fabianus Tibo,
Dominggus da Silva and Marianus Riwu may be executed this week," the
international rights group said in an emailed statement to AFP.
"It is shocking to hear that the executions are going ahead despite the
high level of debate the case has sparked across the country about the use
of the death penalty."
The trio of peasant farmers were convicted in 2001 of leading a Christian
militia which carried out grisly murders of Muslims in religiously-divided
Central Sulawesi. They are due to be executed by firing squad on Thursday.
International rights groups and activists have argued that their trials
were unfair and have left the masterminds roaming free.
Some Indonesians also fear that their cases have been politicised and
effectively linked with those of 3 Islamic militants who also await
execution for their roles in the deadly 2002 Bali bombings.
Indonesia is the worlds most populous Muslim nation, but Christians and
Muslims live in roughly equal numbers in Central Sulawesi, where police
have boosted security ahead of the executions.
"The organisation believes that the use of the death penalty is inherently
an injustice and we urge the President of Indonesia to follow the recent
moves in Southeast Asia for the abolition of the death penalty by granting
clemency to the 3 men and all other prisoners currently sentenced to death
in Indonesia," the Amnesty statement added.
The executions of the trio would be the 1st since May 2005 in Indonesia,
when a convicted murderer faced the firing squad.
The 3 Christians were initially readied for execution last month, but were
granted a last-minute reprieve after Pope Benedict issued a plea for mercy
to the Indonesian government, though authorities denied there was a
connection.
Clashes between Muslims and Christians in 2000 and 2001 left more than
1,000 dead in Central Sulawesi. A government-brokered peace accord largely
ended widespread unrest, but sporadic violence has persisted.