Post by Anja Nieser on Sept 21, 2006 14:01:17 GMT -5
EU assails Jakarta on executions
By Raymond Bonner The New York Times
Published: September 21, 2006
JAKARTA With three Christians scheduled to be executed by firing squad here on Friday in connection with communal violence, and three Muslims facing imminent execution for their role in the 2002 Bali bombings, the European Union has called on Indonesia to declare a moratorium on the death penalty, European diplomats and Indonesian officials said Thursday.
"The European Union, along with many other like-minded countries, opposes the use of the death penalty in all circumstances," the Finnish Ambassador, Markko Niinioga, representing the presidency of the EU, said in a letter that was delivered Wednesday to the Indonesian president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. "The EU finds this punishment cruel and inhuman."
The letter was read to The New York Times by a European diplomat, who did so on the condition of anonymity because the letter has not been released publicly. An aide to Yudhoyono confirmed that it had been received.
Yudhoyono is considered a leading contender for the Nobel Peace Prize, because of his work in bringing about an end to the separatist war in the westernmost province of Aceh, and European diplomats said that the executions could hurt his chances, given the strong anti-death penalty sentiments among European governments.
A senior Indonesian government official, who was granted anonymity in order to learn the government's response, said that it was almost certain that the executions of the Christians, two mechanics and a farmer, would take place.
"We're going to execute the Bali bombers soon after," he added, by way of explanation. In this overwhelmingly Muslim country, the government considers that the risk of political protests would be too great if it executed the Bali bombers and not the Christians.
The three men were scheduled to be executed in early August, but the deaths were postponed following an appeal by Pope Benedict XVI. After that, the scheduled execution of the Bali bombers was also postponed, and with Ramadan beginning on Sunday, it will be at least a month before it is rescheduled.
The condemned are Fabianus Tibo, 60, Marinus Riwu, 48, and Dominggus da Silva, 42.
JAKARTA With three Christians scheduled to be executed by firing squad here on Friday in connection with communal violence, and three Muslims facing imminent execution for their role in the 2002 Bali bombings, the European Union has called on Indonesia to declare a moratorium on the death penalty, European diplomats and Indonesian officials said Thursday.
"The European Union, along with many other like-minded countries, opposes the use of the death penalty in all circumstances," the Finnish Ambassador, Markko Niinioga, representing the presidency of the EU, said in a letter that was delivered Wednesday to the Indonesian president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. "The EU finds this punishment cruel and inhuman."
The letter was read to The New York Times by a European diplomat, who did so on the condition of anonymity because the letter has not been released publicly. An aide to Yudhoyono confirmed that it had been received.
Yudhoyono is considered a leading contender for the Nobel Peace Prize, because of his work in bringing about an end to the separatist war in the westernmost province of Aceh, and European diplomats said that the executions could hurt his chances, given the strong anti-death penalty sentiments among European governments.
A senior Indonesian government official, who was granted anonymity in order to learn the government's response, said that it was almost certain that the executions of the Christians, two mechanics and a farmer, would take place.
"We're going to execute the Bali bombers soon after," he added, by way of explanation. In this overwhelmingly Muslim country, the government considers that the risk of political protests would be too great if it executed the Bali bombers and not the Christians.
The three men were scheduled to be executed in early August, but the deaths were postponed following an appeal by Pope Benedict XVI. After that, the scheduled execution of the Bali bombers was also postponed, and with Ramadan beginning on Sunday, it will be at least a month before it is rescheduled.
The condemned are Fabianus Tibo, 60, Marinus Riwu, 48, and Dominggus da Silva, 42.
www.iht.com/articles/2006/09/21/news/indo.php
By Raymond Bonner The New York Times
Published: September 21, 2006
JAKARTA With three Christians scheduled to be executed by firing squad here on Friday in connection with communal violence, and three Muslims facing imminent execution for their role in the 2002 Bali bombings, the European Union has called on Indonesia to declare a moratorium on the death penalty, European diplomats and Indonesian officials said Thursday.
"The European Union, along with many other like-minded countries, opposes the use of the death penalty in all circumstances," the Finnish Ambassador, Markko Niinioga, representing the presidency of the EU, said in a letter that was delivered Wednesday to the Indonesian president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. "The EU finds this punishment cruel and inhuman."
The letter was read to The New York Times by a European diplomat, who did so on the condition of anonymity because the letter has not been released publicly. An aide to Yudhoyono confirmed that it had been received.
Yudhoyono is considered a leading contender for the Nobel Peace Prize, because of his work in bringing about an end to the separatist war in the westernmost province of Aceh, and European diplomats said that the executions could hurt his chances, given the strong anti-death penalty sentiments among European governments.
A senior Indonesian government official, who was granted anonymity in order to learn the government's response, said that it was almost certain that the executions of the Christians, two mechanics and a farmer, would take place.
"We're going to execute the Bali bombers soon after," he added, by way of explanation. In this overwhelmingly Muslim country, the government considers that the risk of political protests would be too great if it executed the Bali bombers and not the Christians.
The three men were scheduled to be executed in early August, but the deaths were postponed following an appeal by Pope Benedict XVI. After that, the scheduled execution of the Bali bombers was also postponed, and with Ramadan beginning on Sunday, it will be at least a month before it is rescheduled.
The condemned are Fabianus Tibo, 60, Marinus Riwu, 48, and Dominggus da Silva, 42.
JAKARTA With three Christians scheduled to be executed by firing squad here on Friday in connection with communal violence, and three Muslims facing imminent execution for their role in the 2002 Bali bombings, the European Union has called on Indonesia to declare a moratorium on the death penalty, European diplomats and Indonesian officials said Thursday.
"The European Union, along with many other like-minded countries, opposes the use of the death penalty in all circumstances," the Finnish Ambassador, Markko Niinioga, representing the presidency of the EU, said in a letter that was delivered Wednesday to the Indonesian president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. "The EU finds this punishment cruel and inhuman."
The letter was read to The New York Times by a European diplomat, who did so on the condition of anonymity because the letter has not been released publicly. An aide to Yudhoyono confirmed that it had been received.
Yudhoyono is considered a leading contender for the Nobel Peace Prize, because of his work in bringing about an end to the separatist war in the westernmost province of Aceh, and European diplomats said that the executions could hurt his chances, given the strong anti-death penalty sentiments among European governments.
A senior Indonesian government official, who was granted anonymity in order to learn the government's response, said that it was almost certain that the executions of the Christians, two mechanics and a farmer, would take place.
"We're going to execute the Bali bombers soon after," he added, by way of explanation. In this overwhelmingly Muslim country, the government considers that the risk of political protests would be too great if it executed the Bali bombers and not the Christians.
The three men were scheduled to be executed in early August, but the deaths were postponed following an appeal by Pope Benedict XVI. After that, the scheduled execution of the Bali bombers was also postponed, and with Ramadan beginning on Sunday, it will be at least a month before it is rescheduled.
The condemned are Fabianus Tibo, 60, Marinus Riwu, 48, and Dominggus da Silva, 42.
www.iht.com/articles/2006/09/21/news/indo.php