Three men get death for plotting Poso violence

PALU, Central Sulawesi (JP): The Palu District Court sentenced to death on Thursday three men for plotting communal clashes in the Central Sulawesi town of Poso last year, which left more than 200 people dead.

Presiding judge Sudarmo said that Fabianus Tibo, 55, Dominggus da Silva, 37, and Don Marinus Riwu, 43, were responsible for a series of murders during the bloody riots between May 23 to June 30 last year, which pitted Christians against Muslims.

Prosecutors in the trial had demanded the death penalty.

"Based on evidence and witnesses' accounts, the defendants were involved in the killing of hundreds of residents in Poso regency," Sudarmo told the court.

"They also have devastated the conducive interreligious life in Poso."

It is the first time a court has handed down a death sentence to masterminds of riots.

Indonesia has seen a wave of bloody ethnic and religion- related conflicts over the past four years, the latest of which is hitting Central Kalimantan.

Prosecutors identified Tibo as the leader of the Christian "red group", da Silva as his field coordinator and Riwu an operator in the field.

The Christian red group and the Muslim "white group" fought on the streets of Poso and across the district for more than one month following a trivial dispute involving drunken youths from both communities.

Tens of thousands of people were left homeless and were forced to flee the town for safety.

Tibo and his armed followers were responsible for attacks in three separate locations -- in Poso on May 23, in Lage subdistrict on May 28 and in another village in Lage on May 30, prosecutors said.

The defendants also ordered the burning of mosques in the villages they attacked.

At least 28 witnesses testified in the trial, which began late January.

No remorse

The defendants, according to Sudarmo, did not show any regret for their actions and had ridiculed the charges against them by clapping their hands and laughing when the prosecutors read out the indictment in previous hearings.

"There is nothing that can lighten the verdicts," Sudarmo concluded.

Tibo was once imprisoned for six years for murder.

When asked by Sudarmo whether or not they accepted the death penalty, Tibo and the two other defendants said they needed time to consult with their defense lawyers.

The defendants were given seven days to decide whether to appeal to a higher court.

Thousands attended the trial, and welcomed the verdict.

During the hearing, Tibo handed down a list of 16 names he claimed to have been involved in the Poso killings. The roster included two local officials, Yahya Patiro, an assistant to the South Sulawesi Provincial Administration Secretary, and Edi Bungkundapu, secretary at the provincial legislature.

Tibo told the panel of judges that the 16 people were also held responsible for the bloodshed.

When contacted later, Yahya and Edi denied wrongdoings.

More than 400 police personnel led by Palu Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Sudargo guarded the courthouse and its vicinity.

A minor scuffle between civilians and security personnel occurred during the final hearing when anxious spectators attempted to force their way into the courtroom.

Police eventually fired warning shots to disperse the crowd, the members of which chanted, "Hang Tibo." (24/emf)