Indonesia steps up military security as Christians face execution
-21/09/06
Indonesia
Indonesia steps up military security as Christians face execution
-21/09/06
Indonesia has reinforced its military presence in Sulawesi Island ahead of the planned execution of three Christians accused of leading anti-Muslim riots in May 2000.
The three Christians are scheduled to be executed by a firing squad overnight on 21 September 2006 after being convicted of leading anti-Muslim riots on the island, where more than 1,000 people have been killed in eight years of Christian-Muslim violence.
Human rights activists say they were probably not the masterminds of the violence. The men, a farmer and two mechanics, deny any involvement at all in the riots.
Vigils and prayer watches have been held internationally to call for the freeing of the men. Their case has been backed by Amnesty International, which universally opposes the death penalty.
Appeals to the Indonesian government for clemency have been made by people from a variety of religious traditions, as well as secular civil rights activists and lawyers.
There are still hopes for a last minute stay of execution, though possibilities of this seem to have been receding.
A UK Christian who knows one of the men personally told Ekklesia today that continuing pleas should be made on their behalf, right up to the last minute. Activists are asking for a retrial.
Campaigners are asking supporters to communicate with, among others, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, fax: +62 21 345 2685; the Indonesian Embassy in London, tel: 020 7499 7661, fax: 020 7491 4993, e-mail [email protected].
[Also on Ekklesia: Indonesian Catholics face imminent execution; Campaign continues for Indonesian Christians facing death; Retrial call for accused Indonesian Christians; Indonesian Muslims say violence is sin and heresy; Mennonites describe Indonesian earthquake horror]
Indonesia steps up military security as Christians face execution
-21/09/06
Indonesia has reinforced its military presence in Sulawesi Island ahead of the planned execution of three Christians accused of leading anti-Muslim riots in May 2000.
The three Christians are scheduled to be executed by a firing squad overnight on 21 September 2006 after being convicted of leading anti-Muslim riots on the island, where more than 1,000 people have been killed in eight years of Christian-Muslim violence.
Human rights activists say they were probably not the masterminds of the violence. The men, a farmer and two mechanics, deny any involvement at all in the riots.
Vigils and prayer watches have been held internationally to call for the freeing of the men. Their case has been backed by Amnesty International, which universally opposes the death penalty.
Appeals to the Indonesian government for clemency have been made by people from a variety of religious traditions, as well as secular civil rights activists and lawyers.
There are still hopes for a last minute stay of execution, though possibilities of this seem to have been receding.
A UK Christian who knows one of the men personally told Ekklesia today that continuing pleas should be made on their behalf, right up to the last minute. Activists are asking for a retrial.
Campaigners are asking supporters to communicate with, among others, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, fax: +62 21 345 2685; the Indonesian Embassy in London, tel: 020 7499 7661, fax: 020 7491 4993, e-mail [email protected].
[Also on Ekklesia: Indonesian Catholics face imminent execution; Campaign continues for Indonesian Christians facing death; Retrial call for accused Indonesian Christians; Indonesian Muslims say violence is sin and heresy; Mennonites describe Indonesian earthquake horror]