ASIA/INDONESIA - S. Egidio Community appeal to save the lives of Fabianus, Domingus and Marinus, three local Catholics facing execution

Friday, 24 March 2006

Poso (Fides Service) - The Rome based S. Egidio Community has launched an appeal for the lives of three Indonesian Catholics condemned to death: “Your excellency I am deeply concerned for the death sentence given by the Court to Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus da Silva and Marinus Riwu despite new evidence proving their innocence and without full light being shed on tragic events in Poso, and the people behind them. I ask you to intervene to prevent this cruel inhuman punishment. I implore you to see that this cruel and inhuman sentence is not applied”.
The three men involved were condemned to death following riots in the area of Poso in 2000-2002. The S. Egidio Community asks people to endorse the appeal and send a copy to the competent Indonesian authorities. Fabianus, Dominggus and Marinus who live in Sulawesi were arrested in 2000 on charges of murder during disorder and religious clashes in Poso that year. On 5 April 2001 the regional Palu court ruled that they were guilty and issued a death sentence. On 20 December 2001 the Malino Declaration put an end to the conflict in which many local people were involved. The three Catholics, poor and illiterate - says S. Egidio - are probably serving as scapegoats because new evidence shows that it is not sure that they are materially responsible for the crimes committed, while the persons behind the violence in Poso have still to be identified.
Recently Bishop Suwatan of Manado visited the condemned men and took them the blessing of the Pope assuring them of the Holy Father’s spiritual closeness and prayers. Bishop Suwatan said the men were deeply moved and grateful for this message as the situation is ever more difficult. In fact despite positive developments in the filed appeal there are rumours that the execution is imminent. (Agenzia Fides 24/3/2006 righe 26 parole 268)


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