In Indonesia, Supreme Court turns down second pardon application by Tibo and fellow prisoners

(24 Aug. 2006) : Indonesia’s Supreme Court has rejected on Wednesday a second application for pardon made by Fabianus Tibo, Domingus da Silva and Marinus Riwu, the three Catholics sentenced to death in Palu in Central Sulawesi. Upon hearing the ruling, the defence attorneys for the three - Harris Hutabarat, vowed to challenge the court’s decision, saying “the task of the Supreme Court is to submit the request to the president who may accept it or reject it.” In his opinion, if the Supreme Court breaks the law, it means that it intends to confiscate the civil rights of the citizen sentenced to death and kill him. In the meantime, the General Attorney’s Office continues to prepare for the execution of Tibo and his fellow prisoners.

In this situation President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has maintained his silence, but the number of people calling for the death sentence to be overturned is growing. Many are worried that the authorities plan to execute the three Christians at the same time with three Bali terrorists whose case was reopened a few days ago. On Tuesday night at least 1,500 people took part in a peaceful march in Poso. Last Friday some 10,000 people took to the streets Poso and Morowali.