Gus Dur asks for delay of Poso executions
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.