Poso (AsiaNews) – A group of leading representatives of Indonesia's Muslim world have called for the waiving of the death penalty hanging over three Catholics for having fomented the violence which exploded in Sulawesi in 2000. This group went yesterday to the prison of Poso for talks with the three condemned Catholics.

The leaders – Nawawi S Kilat, Mustar Labolo, Rizal Rauf and Haj Alumuddin –  represent different Muslim organisations in the country, including the "White and Red Front" (the colours of the national flag), the Indonesian Students' Big Family and the Muslim Brotherhood Movement.

During the visit, they questioned the three detainees – Fabian Tibo, Dominggus da Silva and Marinus Riwu, in the photos – about their recent revelations. The three have claimed that at least 16 people were behind the inter-faith violence which took place some years ago in central Sulawesi, including government officials.

Fr Jimmy Tumbelaka Pr, parish priest of St Lucia Church in Tentena said the arrival of the Muslim leaders "served to boost the morale of the three who feel comforted by the attention paid to their case".

Nawaki S Kilat said he "listened carefully to the revelations made by Tibo and his two friends. These people they point out as responsible should be investigated, if nothing else to clarify their position".

However, at the moment, the priority is the lifting of the death sentence, due to be executed shortly. "The Supreme Court has the power to change the death sentence to life in prison," he added. "Given their confession, the three Catholics should be considered as key witnesses. If they are executed, we lose forever the possibility of understanding what really happened here five years ago."

Soon after the meeting, Fr Tumbelaka announced the submission of a new appeal for clemency to the Indonesian President Susilo: the first was turned down on 10 November.  The priest is also asking that the case be reopened and that the eye witnesses who could exonerate the three – ignored by the courts which handed down the death sentence – be taken into consideration.

The same request is being made by the Jubilee Campaign, a movement of Protestant Christians, which has launched a petition of signatures calling for clemency for the three Catholics. "The three are in prison because of a judicial error," says an article describing the campaign. "All voices in their favour have been ignored. We ask all those who are worried about this matter to write to President Susilo asking for the re-opening of the case and the possibility to hear witnesses in their favour."