April 10
INDONESIA: Activists maintain fight for death row Indonesian Catholics Indonesian human rights and church activists will continue fighting to save 3 Catholics sentenced to death for their role in sectarian violence and whose execution is thought to be imminent. AsiaNews.it reports that the three inmates, Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus da Silva and Marinus Riwu, have been condemned to death for the massacre of Muslims during interreligious clashes in Poso, Central Sulawesi, in 2000 which left over 1,000 people dead. Despite the decision by Indonesia's Supreme Court against reopening the case which human rights and church groups claim would exonerate the 3 men, activists vowed to continue fighting against the death sentences. At a media conference held on Thursday in Jakarta, a number of human rights activists voiced their deepest concern over the inflexibility shown by the Attorney General Office and the Supreme Court. "Both are more concerned with the letter of the law and fail to consider one of its fundamental aspects, namely respect for humanity and human rights," the groups said. According to Papang Hidayat from the Commission for Disappearances and Victims of Violence the death penalty is a violation of a person's human rights, which should guarantee every citizen the right to life. Representatives from two legal aid agencies agree. "Our legal system, which gives prosecutors the right to enforce death penalties, is a legacy of the old Dutch criminal code. The spirit of colonialism has no right to exist any more," they said at the media conference. The last hope now for the three Catholics sentenced to death lies with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who has not yet responded to a 2nd appeal for pardon made a few weeks ago by the families and attorneys of Fabianus Tibo and his 2 co-accused. Last month, Benedict XVI sent an envoy, Bishop Joseph Suwatan, to comfort the 3 men. (source: Catholic News)
