Evidence that military figures were involved in the formation of Christian militias in Poso.

In the continuing saga of the impending executions of three Christian men convicted of murder of Muslims during the civil strife that has plagued central Sulawesi since 1998 it has emerged, from the defence’s side, that there exists some evidence of the security forces having involvement in instigating and leading the troubles between Christians and Muslims.

The men’s lawyers, belonging to the Indonesian Advocacy Service for Justice and Peace, submitted a list to the National Police headquarters on Wednesday of 16 personnel they said were key instigators of the Muslim-Christian violence that broke out in May 2000.

The head counsel, Roy Rening, said that the 16 men on the list were linked to the Christian militia called the “Red Group”, which was led by Janis Simangunsong and Paulus Tungkanan. He added:

We hope a thorough investigation by the police can reveal the real perpetrators who masterminded the killings in the region.

and also said, of the three condemned men, Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus Da Silva, and Marinus Riwu:

(Da Silva and Riwu) were just ordinary people who met Tibo and asked him to go along with them to Poso. Tibo and his friends went to Poso because Janis had informed him that a Christian orphanage in Poso would be attacked by Muslims.

Roy said he had three bundles of testimony documents from residents supporting the convicts’ alibi and role in the attack. This looks like a final gambit to save the men who have repeatedly been denied clemency.

National Police spokesmen Brigadier General Anton Bachrul Alam said that the police would follow up the report with an investigation.

Condemned man Fabianus Tibo seems intent on dragging down as many people as possible in an attempt to prolong his life.

After having named sixteen men he claims had roles in the the sectarian violence in central Sulawesi he has now said that the Synod Council of the Christian Church in central Sulawesi (GKST) was also involved in organising Christian resistance to Muslim attacks.

Everybody knows but I don’t know why the police have never questioned them. I want to say that before we went down to Poso [to attack Muslims] we were blessed by pastors in the grounds of the Synod Council.

And he once again pointed the finger at men who were instrumental in organising the Christian militia called “Red Group”, that is Paulus Tungkanan, Erick Rombot, Limpadeli, and Angki Tungkanan.

They are the ones who should be arrested by the police. Yahya Pattiro as well, I met him yesterday, why hasn’t he been arrested?

Yahya Pattiro was at the time the Regional Secretary of the Poso district government. Tibo’s fellow accused Dominggus da Silva also “gave up” Yahya Pattiro.

One time I was in the office of the Synod Council and Yahya telephoned for Tungkanan. He was out so Yahya left a message for Tungkanan that he should block the road by which an army force was going to enter Poso, from Palopo.