Indonesian Christians executed in Sulawesi
Three Indonesian Christians found guilty of taking part in bloody riots in 2000, were executed today. This case has brought a lot of controversy, with the Pope wading in (got to love the Pope, poor old guy), to try to save them. It occurs to me, that people around the world, have a split-personality when it comes to the death penalty. John Howard, for example, campaigns to save Australian drug offenders from death, while at the same time, being almost gleeful, that Amrozi & co. will get death. Similiarly, many people around the world would love to see Amrozi, and the rest of the ‘Muslim terrorists’ die (Bashir, Samudra etc.), but feel uneasy when 3 Christians are in line. Indonsian Pres. SBY wasn’t swayed by clemency pleas, and the 3 men are enjoying the company of each in another reality.
Christians executed for 2000 massacre of Muslims
PALU, Central Sulawesi (JP): Three Christian militants convicted for the massacre of hundreds of Muslims in 2000 were executed in the early hours on Friday, a senior police officer said.
The officer, who declined to be identified, confirmed that the execution of Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus da Silva and Marinus Riwu, was carried out at 1.20 am local time.
Their bodies were then taken to the Bhayangkara police hospital for autopsy, he said.
No further details were available, including the location of the execution, usually by a firing squad.
The three men had exhausted all legal channels for reprieve, including a request for clemency which was rejected by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
Their last ditch attempt, for a case review, by citing new evidence — that they had the names of the masterminds of the massacre — was ignored, though it bought them time of about one month.
The Vatican as well as local church leaders had also asked for clemency.
Fabianus and his two accomplices were convicted for leading the massacre of about 200 Muslims at the height of the sectarian conflict in Poso, pitting Muslims and Christians.
Relatives and friends had held an all night prayers in Palu on Thursday.
Police in the meantime had maintained vigilance throughout the province. There have been no reports of protests or unrests on Thursday.