Fabianus Tibo

Three Christian men in Indonesia who claim they were falsely accused of murder during attacks by radical Muslims face execution after being denied clemency by the Asian nation's president.

Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus Dasilva and Marinus Riwu were sentenced to death during the conflict in Poso, Central Sulewesi, in 2000.

With denial of clemency by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, their execution by firing squad could take place as early as the end of this month, according to the British-based Christian charity Jubilee Campaign.

Dominggus Dasilva

The three men claim their convictions resulted from irregularities during their trial. They contend, for example, the judge in the case neglected to consider the testimony of 13 different witnesses – including the defendants themselves – that would have exonerated them.

A number of other witnesses – including Irwanto Hasan, who at the time was a member of the Poso Police Intelligence Division – say the men were part of a humanitarian team when they were arrested.

They came to Poso in 2000 after hearing reports a Catholic Church there had been burned, Jubilee Campaign said.

The men entered the conflict zone to evacuate children from a church-run school in the village of Moengko, Poso City. On the morning of May 23, 2000, a Muslim mob entered the village and set fire to the church. The defendants and the students escaped out the back door before the building burned to the ground.

A few days later, according to Hasan, Tibo and the others were recruited by the Red Group, described as a "militant Christian group." Hasan claimed the men acted to subvert the Red Group's leaders and protect various individuals – both Christian and Muslim – from violence.

Marinus Riwu

Hasan claimed that at one point Tibo saved his life.

A number of Indonesian human rights groups are supporting the three men, seeking clemency and exoneration.

At the request of Jubilee Campaign Indonesia, several members of the U.S. Congress have written to President Susilo, urging him to reconsider his denial of clemency. Jubilee Campaign's U.S. branch is developing a case to take before the United Nations.

As WorldNetDaily reported in 2001, more than 2,000 people died in three years of clashes in Central Sulawesi province before a peace agreement was reached between Muslim and Christian leaders.

An Islamic terrorist group called Laskar Jihad threatened to eliminate Christians from the region but was held off by government troops.

Since the agreement, however, sporadic attacks – mostly against Christians – have continued, according to Christian Solidarity Worldwide.

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