Post by Anja Nieser on Oct 1, 2006 6:20:26 GMT -5
Rampage over executed Christians
Angry residents in a district of Indonesia's Sulawesi stormed a police
station and set fire to cars today in renewed protest over the execution
of 3 Christians last week, police said.
The executions of Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus da Silva and Marianus Riwu -
who were shot dead for inciting violence against Muslims in religiously
divided Central Sulawesi in 2000 - were strongly opposed by Christians.
Sporadic unrest in Christian-dominated areas erupted last week after the
executions.
The attack on the Pamona Utara police precinct in Poso district occurred
during a visit by the Central Sulawesi provincial police chief. Badrodin
Haiti was in the area to attend a function earlier Friday, his spokesman
told AFP.
The mob burned 2 police vehicles and another car belonging to the
district's transportation agency, spokesman Muhammad Kilat said.
There were no casualties in the attack, Mr Kilat said, but local police
and military personnel were immediately put on stand-by in case unrest
escalated.
Many residents in Central Sulawesi blame Haiti for having organised the
executions in his capacity as police chief.
Mr Haiti's predecessor was sacked from the post in August after he
recommended a delay of the trio's execution to authorities in Jakarta.
The case of the three men sparked concern from international rights
activists, who criticised the fairness of their trial and saw the men as
scapegoats targetted, while few others were convicted over the violence
that rocked the province in 2000-01.
(source: News.com)
Angry residents in a district of Indonesia's Sulawesi stormed a police
station and set fire to cars today in renewed protest over the execution
of 3 Christians last week, police said.
The executions of Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus da Silva and Marianus Riwu -
who were shot dead for inciting violence against Muslims in religiously
divided Central Sulawesi in 2000 - were strongly opposed by Christians.
Sporadic unrest in Christian-dominated areas erupted last week after the
executions.
The attack on the Pamona Utara police precinct in Poso district occurred
during a visit by the Central Sulawesi provincial police chief. Badrodin
Haiti was in the area to attend a function earlier Friday, his spokesman
told AFP.
The mob burned 2 police vehicles and another car belonging to the
district's transportation agency, spokesman Muhammad Kilat said.
There were no casualties in the attack, Mr Kilat said, but local police
and military personnel were immediately put on stand-by in case unrest
escalated.
Many residents in Central Sulawesi blame Haiti for having organised the
executions in his capacity as police chief.
Mr Haiti's predecessor was sacked from the post in August after he
recommended a delay of the trio's execution to authorities in Jakarta.
The case of the three men sparked concern from international rights
activists, who criticised the fairness of their trial and saw the men as
scapegoats targetted, while few others were convicted over the violence
that rocked the province in 2000-01.
(source: News.com)