[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

August 11


INDONESIA:

Indonesia delays Christian militant executions

Indonesia has delayed until after Aug. 17 the execution of 3 Christian
militants convicted of killing Muslims, national police chief Sutanto told
reporters late on Friday.

Fabianus Tibo, Marianus Riwu and Dominggus Silva were to face a firing
squad just after midnight (1700 GMT) on Friday at a secret location in
Palu, the capital of Central Sulawesi province, a spokesman for the
Indonesian attorney general had said.

But Sutanto said he had received a report from provincial police that the
executions 'will be after the 17th, not tonight'.

The country's national day holiday is on Aug. 17 and police and officials
wanted to concentrate on preparing for that, Sutanto said.

The announcement of the delay came after a day of demonstrations against
the planned executions by thousands of Indonesians, and a plea by the pope
for clemency.

But Sutanto added: 'This is only a problem of time. The provincial
government will decide the execution timeframe. The fastest would be 3
days (after the 17th).'

Pope Benedict had called on Indonesia to stop the execution of the 3
Christian militants, as thousands of Indonesians held a prayer vigil
opposing the death penalty.

Vatican Secretary of State Angelo Sodano said on behalf of the Pope that
clemency should be granted 'on humanitarian grounds' for the 3 men who
were found guilty of leading a Christian mob in an attack which killed
more than 200 people during Muslim-Christian clashes in the province's
Poso region.

'In the name of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, I turn to you again ... in
order that an act of clemency might be granted to these 3 Catholic
citizens of your nation,' a letter addressed to Indonesian President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said.

Yudhoyono had rejected the men's appeals for a pardon last year, but
Indonesians had gathered to oppose the execution.

Last March, local and international Catholic groups urged Yudhoyono to
reconsider his stance on the 3 death sentences, but there has been no
indication he would intervene.

Muslim-Christian clashes raged in Central Sulawesi from late 1998 to 2001,
killing 2,000 before a peace accord took effect.

On Thursday, thousands of Christians held a rally in the Poso town of
Tentena to oppose the execution.

3 Islamic militants sentenced to death for their leading roles in the 2002
Bali nightclub bombings that killed 202 people have also been notified
that their executions have been set for this month.

Around 85 percent of Indonesia's 220 million people follow Islam and most
of those Muslims are moderates but Islamic militancy is on the rise
through small but vocal radical groups.

Some areas in eastern Indonesia such as Poso have roughly equal
proportions of Muslims and Christians.

(source: Reuters)

*******************

Pope calls on Indonesia for clemency


Pope Benedict has called on Indonesia to stop the imminent execution of 3
Christian militants convicted of killing Muslims, as thousands of
Indonesians held a prayer vigil opposing the death penalty.

Fabianus Tibo, Marianus Riwu and Dominggus Silva were to face a firing
squad just after midnight at a secret location in Palu, the capital of
Central Sulawesi province, a spokesman for the Indonesian attorney general
has said.

Vatican Secretary of State Angelo Sodano said on behalf of the Pope that
clemency should be granted "on humanitarian grounds" for the 3 men who
were found guilty of leading a Christian mob in an attack which killed
more than 200 people during Muslim-Christian clashes in the province's
Poso region.

"In the name of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, I turn to you again ... in
order that an act of clemency might be granted to these 3 Catholic
citizens of your nation," a letter addressed to Indonesian President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said.

Yudhoyono had rejected the three men's appeals for a pardon last year, but
Indonesians gathered to oppose the execution.

"Thousands of people are gathering in a field in Palu and Tentena to
support (the convicts) in prayers," said Heri Julius, a local Christian
priest.

Police tightened security ahead of the execution.

Indonesia does not make public the time and location of executions, with
notification limited to next of kin.

Last March, local and international Catholic groups urged Yudhoyono to
reconsider his stance on the three death sentences, but there has been no
indication he will intervene.

Muslim-Christian clashes raged in Central Sulawesi from late 1998 to 2001,
killing 2,000 before a peace accord took effect.

On Thursday, thousands of Christians held a rally in the Poso town of
Tentena to oppose the execution.

3 Islamic militants sentenced to death for their leading roles in the 2002
Bali nightclub bombings that killed 202 people have also been notified
that their executions have been set for this month.

Around 85 % of Indonesia's 220 million people follow Islam and most of
those Muslims are moderates but Islamic militancy is on the rise through
small but vocal radical groups.

Some areas in eastern Indonesia such as Poso have roughly equal
proportions of Muslims and Christians.

(source: Reuters)






PERU:

Peru's highest justice official against death penalty for child rapists


Adelaida Bolivar, Peru's Attorney General (or "Prosecutor of the Nation",
as it is called), today rejected the implantation of capital punishment
for murdering child rapists because "the sanctions in our country for
these cases are already severe."

She argued that the application of the death penalty entails many risks,
because judgment can be wrong and there's no chance to remedy a judicial
error.

She recalled that last year Parliament determined that Peru's justice
system should impose life imprisonment for delinquents who raped minors of
7 years or younger. Before last year these cases were sanctioned with 25
years or less.

Bolivar considered that a better education among Peruvian families is
necessary because "it is verified that a great percentage of violations
happens in familiar surroundings of the victim".

"It is necessary to teach children how to take care of themselves", she
added.

She also maintained that in order to apply the death penalty Peru would
have to resign from the "Pact of San Jose", because the country would lose
all credibility.

She also opposed President Garcia's proposal for a referendum because "a
majority of our citizens can also be wrong". To make her point she used
the bible as an example, referring to the people's choice of Barabbas over
Jesus Christ.

(source: Living in Peru)






CANADA:

Liberal MP Defends Rights of Canadian Citizen Facing Execution in China


The Honourable Bryon Wilfert, Official Opposition Critic for Foreign
Affairs (Asia-Pacific) today called on the Government of Canada to seek
assurances from the Chinese government that they will not seek the death
penalty in Huseyincan Celil case. Reports indicate that Mr. Celil could
face imminent execution.

Mr. Celil, a Canadian Citizen from Burlington, Ontario was extradited from
Uzbekistan to China in June in spite of a Canadian diplomatic note which
was sent by Minister of Foreign Affairs Peter MacKay.

According to reports, Mr. Celil founded a political party in China to work
on behalf of the Uyghur Muslim minority in the Xinjiang region. He was
recently sentenced to death in China for human rights work he did on
behalf of the Uyghur community.

"I addressed this issue in June as well as raised my concerns with the
Ambassador of China that Mr. Celil's life is in danger and we need to take
steps to ensure that he receives fair treatment," said Mr. Wilfert.

Mr. Wilfert is calling on the Chinese government to provide updated
information on Mr. Celil's condition and to promise that the Canadian will
not be executed.

"I would like assurance as well from the Canadian government that it will
take all steps necessary to ensure this Canadian citizen will receive
appropriate treatment and that any proceedings will be held in an open
forum," said Mr. Wilfert.

(source: Liberal Party of Canada)