Jakarta (AsiaNews) Jakarta (AsiaNews) The execution by firing squad of three Indonesian Catholics scheduled for August 12 at 00:15 (local time) has been stayed for at least a week. The announcement was made by Sulawesi Police Chief Brig Gen Oegroseno, who said that the order came from National Police Chief General Sutanto. Catholics and Muslims have never the less not interrupted their prayer vigils for the release of the three prisoners.
In the announcement that came after President Susilo met his top security ministers, including Attorney General Abdul Rahman Saleh, Senior Minister for Political, Security and Law Affairs retired Admiral Widodo Adi Sutjipto, and the Indonesian Military Chief Air Marshall Djoko Suyanto, General Susanto said: "I can confirm that the execution has been cancelled."
In point of fact, the cancellation is only temporary, ostensibly because "all of Indonesia is now preparing to celebrate the 61st anniversary of independence next August 17," the general said as he was leaving the State Palace.
The sentence has been rescheduled for three days after Independence Day celebrations, in all likelihood on August 20.
Despite the official explanation, it is widely believed that the postponement was due to strong pressures on the government from various groups, including NGOs, human rights activists, church leaders, the international community as well as the Holy See.
In a statement, Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said his government is prepared to explain the reasons for the sentence.
In the meantime, millions of Catholics across the country have prayed and demonstrated all through the evening and into the night on behalf of the three men.
In Jakarta a vigil is still underway in front of the Proclamation Monument. In Ende (Flores Islands), where the three men come from, thousands of residents took part in a candlelight march along the town's streets. In Manada (Sulawesi), Bishop Peter Canisius Mandagi celebrated mass at midnight.
For Fr Norbert Bethan, the three prisoners' spiritual advisor, the decision was a miracle. "This is God's work," he said. "Just moments ago a prison guard showed us the three coffins that are supposed to contain the remains" of the three men.
