Gus Dur asks for delay of Poso executions
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid has joined the growing number of calls for the president to delay the execution of three inmates on death row for their roles in several murders in Poso, Central Sulawesi five years ago.
Gus Dur said the delay was needed to allow for further investigation into other people, including the masterminds behind the bloodshed involving Muslims and Christians in the conflict- prone Central Sulawesi town.
The respected Muslim cleric met with a group of religious leaders from Poso, including Rev. Rinaldy Damanik, at the headquarters of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the country's largest Muslim organization, Antara reported on Saturday.
Gus Dur, also a former NU chairman, demanded the establishment of an independent fact-finding team to uncover the truth behind the mass killings, including the masterminds.
Over 1,000 people were killed in the Muslim-Christian fighting between 2000 and 2001. A peace deal was signed in the South Sulawesi town of Malino in December 2001, following talks facilitated by then coordinating minister for people's welfare Jusuf Kalla.
Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus da Silva and Marinus Riwu are now on death row after President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono denied clemency for them, which was their last hope to escape execution after the Supreme Court upheld their death penalties.
Tibo had previously given to the police the names of 16 other people involved in the killings who are still at large.
A group activists and religious leaders, including Muslim leaders, have demanded a delay to the execution, saying they believed Tibo and friends were not the masterminds of the violence.
Meanwhile, Palu Police chief Brig. Gen. Oegroseno said he had received a letter from the Central Sulawesi Prosecutors Office to ready the firing squad team for the execution.
"But we have not yet decided on the team, the timing and the place (for the execution). I think we'll let them celebrate Christmas and the new year first," he said.