10/08/2006

INDONESIA: ISLAMIC BODIES WILLING TO REVISE DEATH PENALTY LAW

Speaking about the scheduled execution of three Christians in Indonesia next Saturday, Valeria Martano of the Sant'Egidio Community said that Indonesia's two largest Islamic organizations, which account for over 80 million people, are in favour of a review of the current law on death penalty. The three men have been convicted of slaughter in connection with the clashes which occurred in Poso, in the island of Sulawesi, between Muslims and Christians. They are expected to be executed by firing squadnext Saturday.

Martano said that she had discussed the issue with the two leading representatives of Muhammadiya and Nahdlatul Ulama, that is Din Syamsuddin and Abdurrahman Wahid (former Indonesian president) noticing their willingness to revise the legislation. Martano also explained that the bishop of Manado, monsignor Joseph Suwatan, the leader of the Majelis Ulama Sulawesi, Arifin Assagaf, and Protestant priest Nico Gara, who is the president of an association of 21 Asian Protestant Churches, signed a joint statement calling for the suspension of death penalty and a review of the trial involving the three men. Valeria Martano said that on July 8 the Sant'Egidio Community, through the Italian foreign ministry, informed the representatives of the EU who immediately urged local authorities to suspend the execution and carry on with the investigations.