Post by Anja Nieser on Sept 20, 2006 15:29:22 GMT -5
INDONESIA:
"Shoot us in public" last wish of 3 death row Catholics
Tibos son had this message to give after meeting his father for the last
time: "Thus, those who want to kill us will be satisfied" The 3
Indonesians will be executed just after midnight tonight, without ever
having received an answer from President Susilo about their second request
for clemency.
3 Indonesian Catholics condemned to death for the massacre of Muslims
during the 2000 inter-faith conflict in Poso, central Sulawesi, want to be
executed in public. The desire of Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus da Silva and
Marinus Riwa, was revealed yesterday by Tibos eldest son, Robert: "The
execution should take place in public, to satisfy those who want our
death."
The execution by firing squad of the three Christians, on whose behalf
even Benedict had intervened, will take place shortly after midnight
today, in the first minutes of the new day. The case of "Tibo and friends"
drew international attention: the trial that condemned them to capital
punishment was marred by illegal procedures like witnesses who were not
heard and evidence that was not accepted by the court.
Relatives of the 3 convicts yesterday went to Petobo prison in Palu for a
final visit. They were accompanied by Fr Jimmy Tumbelaka, of Manado
diocese and 2 lawyers from the PADMA group who were defending them: Fr
Norbert Bethan and Stephen Roy Rening. The latter reiterated for the
umpteenth time that tomorrow's execution goes "against the law, seeing
that the condemned men are still waiting for an official response from
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono about the 2nd request for clemency."
The 3 Catholics have also expressed their desire to have their coffins
exposed to the public in the Cathedral of St Mary of Palu. Tibo and Riwu
will be buried in the village of Beteleme in Morowali, Poso, while da
Silva will return to his native village in the province of East Nusa
Tenggara. "Allow my family to take care of my remains, not the Attorney
Generals Office," was Tibos last expressed wish.
Fr Tumbelaka said: "The firing squad has been chosen and the place and
time fixed. Any changes now are in the hands of God." In view of the
execution, which in preceding months had provoked great protest rallies,
the prison authorities have heightened security measures in Petobo prison.
Meanwhile, there is no letup in criticism against the court decision.
According to Usman Hamid, head of the Commission for the Missing Persons
and Victims of Violence (known as KONTRAS), "by killing the 3 men, the
State is going against human rights and preventing the disclosure of the
identity of those who truly responsible for these clashes."
(source: Asia News)
"Shoot us in public" last wish of 3 death row Catholics
Tibos son had this message to give after meeting his father for the last
time: "Thus, those who want to kill us will be satisfied" The 3
Indonesians will be executed just after midnight tonight, without ever
having received an answer from President Susilo about their second request
for clemency.
3 Indonesian Catholics condemned to death for the massacre of Muslims
during the 2000 inter-faith conflict in Poso, central Sulawesi, want to be
executed in public. The desire of Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus da Silva and
Marinus Riwa, was revealed yesterday by Tibos eldest son, Robert: "The
execution should take place in public, to satisfy those who want our
death."
The execution by firing squad of the three Christians, on whose behalf
even Benedict had intervened, will take place shortly after midnight
today, in the first minutes of the new day. The case of "Tibo and friends"
drew international attention: the trial that condemned them to capital
punishment was marred by illegal procedures like witnesses who were not
heard and evidence that was not accepted by the court.
Relatives of the 3 convicts yesterday went to Petobo prison in Palu for a
final visit. They were accompanied by Fr Jimmy Tumbelaka, of Manado
diocese and 2 lawyers from the PADMA group who were defending them: Fr
Norbert Bethan and Stephen Roy Rening. The latter reiterated for the
umpteenth time that tomorrow's execution goes "against the law, seeing
that the condemned men are still waiting for an official response from
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono about the 2nd request for clemency."
The 3 Catholics have also expressed their desire to have their coffins
exposed to the public in the Cathedral of St Mary of Palu. Tibo and Riwu
will be buried in the village of Beteleme in Morowali, Poso, while da
Silva will return to his native village in the province of East Nusa
Tenggara. "Allow my family to take care of my remains, not the Attorney
Generals Office," was Tibos last expressed wish.
Fr Tumbelaka said: "The firing squad has been chosen and the place and
time fixed. Any changes now are in the hands of God." In view of the
execution, which in preceding months had provoked great protest rallies,
the prison authorities have heightened security measures in Petobo prison.
Meanwhile, there is no letup in criticism against the court decision.
According to Usman Hamid, head of the Commission for the Missing Persons
and Victims of Violence (known as KONTRAS), "by killing the 3 men, the
State is going against human rights and preventing the disclosure of the
identity of those who truly responsible for these clashes."
(source: Asia News)