Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the recent naming and detention of two more suspects in the ongoing, yet highly unpredictable, investigations into the murder of human rights activist Mr. Munir Said Thalib. Mr. Munir died of arsenic poisoning during the course of his journey aboard a Garuda Indonesia Airways flight destined for Amsterdam on 7 September 2004.
UPDATED INFORMATION:
On 10 April 2007, Chief of National Police, General Sutanto made a public announcement following a confidential meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, in which he announced the recent naming of further suspects in the Munir murder investigation; all of whom were former Officials for Garuda Airways. Later on April 15, it was revealed that Mr. Indra Setiawan, the former Director of Garuda Airways, and Ms. Rohainil Aini, the Secretary to the Chief Pilot for Garuda Airways, were arrested as suspects, following the uncovering of what appears to be a much wider murder conspiracy, involving the said persons and prior trial suspect Garuda Airways Pilot Mr. Pollycarpus Priyanto. Said General Sutanto of the two suspects; Among other things, their role was to take part in falsifying flight documents of the former suspect Pollycarpus. The flight documents were falsified on the orders of Mr. Setiawan.
Mr. M. Assegaf, Attorney for Garuda Airways said that the manner in which his clients were arrested was deplorable; They were arrested as if they were terrorists. All the Police needed to do was to submit a letter requesting their presence at the National Police Headquarters for questioning.
Garuda Airways flight attendants Oedi Irianto and Yeti Susmiarti were also named as possible suspects, but have yet to be formally prosecuted. National Police chief Detective, Commander General Bambang Hendarso said at a recent press conference that new evidence has come to light which could re-implicate Mr. Priyanto as a suspect once again. It has been hinted that there are still more suspects, but their names have yet to be made public information.
General Sutanto also announced that recent evidence suggests that the late Mr. Munir was poisoned while in transit at Singapore’s national Changi Airport. Apparently, criminal investigative authorities are in the process of collecting further evidence and questioning several new witnesses who claim to have seen the late Mr. Munir conversing with Mr. Pollicarpus and Indonesian musician Raymond Ongen Latuihamalo in Singapores national Changi Airport. For security reasons, the identities of the victims cannot be revealed.
Mr. Usman Hamid, Coordinator of the Commission for Disappeared Persons and Victims of Violence (KONTRAS) argued that there was something desperately amiss in the current criminal investigations into Mr. Munir’s murder and that the developments made to date are well below the minimum standards expected from such a high-profile investigation. Do not let the President flee from his responsibilities said Mr. Hamid.
Ms. Suciwati, the late Mr. Munir’s widow and unceasing advocate for justice for her slain husband had this to say on the matter; I hope that this is not just courtesy. Not just merely to entertain us because up until now, the investigation has been stagnant…I must remain optimistic and pressure the Police to uncover the mastermind (behind my husband’s murder).
Despite what seems a significant step forward by the Government, the late Mr. Munir’s family, colleagues and supporters alike remain unconvinced, and highly skeptical as to the sincerity of the Government’s intentions. Many believe that this recent development is a timely bid on the part of the Government to boost their credibility for re-election to the UN Human Rights Council amidst growing international pressure over the stalled and stagnant procedure of investigations. According to Mr. Rafendi Djamin of the Human Rights Working Group; …the Munir case (is like) a pebble in the shoe for Indonesia’s plans because.. the UN Special Rapporteur for Extra-Judicial Killings, the Forced Disappearances Working Group and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for the Protection of Human Rights…have raised the issue of the Munir murder case during the last Council session.
Mr. Philip Alston, UN Special Rapporteur for Extrajudicial Executions filed a formal report during the 4th UNHRC conference, in which he expressed his grave concern regarding the 2006 ruling of the Supreme Court, acquitting then sole suspect Mr. Pollycarpus Priyanto of all murder charges; despite clear evidence of his involvement in a much larger political conspiracy involving high ranking intelligence officers. Mr. Alston also stated that while the Indonesian government had been cooperative, they have yet to produce conclusive results in the Munir murder investigation. He asked that the government of Indonesia release the findings of the Presidential Fact Finding Team in their investigative report, and take prompt prosecutory action against all those implicated persons- regardless of their position.
The Munir case has been closely followed both by the international and national media. An article in April 13 (2007) issue of the Jakarta Post Newspaper said the following; Many times over, we are left with unanswered questions and rumours of ugly conspiracies. And, worse than that, there is the lingering sense that Munir’s case will not be the last. The continued culture of impunity means it is likely someone else with the right connections will be able to get away as easily as Munir’s killers have.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the relevant authorities listed below, expressing your concern regarding the stalled progress of the Munir murder case, and your hopes that its recent reopening is a genuine effort on the part of the Indonesian Government to bring Mr. Munir’s murderers to justice.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear _________,
INDONESIA: The naming of two more suspects in Munir murder case brings new hope for justice for the slain activist
Name of victim: Mr. Munir Said Thalib; A prominent and internationally renowned human rights defender, and vocal critic of the Indonesian Government and the military for its human rights abuses both in East Timor and Indonesia.
Name of suspects for Munir’s murder:
1. Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto: Garuda Airways Pilot.
2. Indra Setiawan: Former Director of Garuda Airways.
3. Ramelgia Anwar: Vice President of Corporate Security of Garuda Airways.
4. Rohainil Aini: Secretary to the Chief Pilot for Garuda Airways.
5. Major-General Muchdi PR: Deputy of the Badan Intelijen Negera (BIN)- State Intelligentsia.
6. Yeti Susmiarti: Garuda Airways Flight Attendant.
7. Oedi Irianto: Garuda Airways Flight Attendant.
Date of murder: 7 September 2004
I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding the delay and the unpredictability about the recent developments in the investigation and prosecutory trial of the murder of the late human rights activist, Mr. Munir Said Thalib. Mr. Munir died of arsenic poisoning during the course of his journey aboard a Garuda Indonesia Airways flight destined for Amsterdam on 7 September 2004.
I was greatly relieved to hear of the recent arrests of three further suspects in the ongoing investigations into Mr. Munir’s murder. In his public address on 10 April 2007, Chief of National Police, General Sutanto announced that the former Director of Garuda Airways, Mr. Indra Setiawan, the Vice President of Corporate Security for Garuda Airways, Mr. Ramelgia Anwar, and Secretary to the Chief Pilot for Garuda Airways, Ms. Rohainil Aini have been arrested as suspects following recent findings that suggest a conspiracy to commit murder involving the said persons and prior trial suspect Garuda Airways Pilot Mr. Pollycarpus Priyanto. Said General Sutanto. Garuda Airways flight attendants Oedi Irianto and Yeti Susmiarti were also named as possible suspects, but have yet to be formally prosecuted, and it has also been hinted that there are still more suspects, but their names have yet to be made public information.
General Sutanto also announced that recent evidence suggests that the late Mr. Munir was poisoned while in transit at Singapore’s national Changi Airport.
Ms. Suciwati, the late Mr. Munir’s widow and unceasing advocate for justice for her slain husband had this to say on the matter; I hope that this is not just courtesy. Not just merely to entertain us because up until now, the investigation has been stagnant…I must remain optimistic and pressure the Police to uncover the mastermind (behind my husband’s murder).
Many of the late Mr. Munir’s family, former colleagues and supporters remain highly skeptical as to the sincerity of the Government’s intentions. Many believe that this recent development is a timely bid on the part of the Government to boost their credibility for re-election to the UN Human Rights Council amidst growing international pressure over the stalled and stagnant procedure of investigations.
While I applaud the initiative shown by the Indonesian Government and Police authorities for their renewed commitment to obtaining justice for the late Mr. Munir and his bereaved family, I do have my reservations and concerns as to whether this latest series of developments will bear any fruition, or whether it will suffer the same fate as the vast majority of criminal cases in Indonesia which more often than not, have fallen prey to political interference and obstruction of justice.
I am also concerned that the Government of Indonesia is engaging the people of Indonesia in a cat and mouse game; making lofty promises of justice, which they eventually fail to deliver on. That justice has yet to be achieved for Indonesia’s most renowned and revered Human Rights activist, three years after his murder tells a very sorry tale of the existing criminal justice system of Indonesia, and paints an even darker picture for the average Indonesian citizen.
Therefore, I strongly urge that you join us in our campaign to press the Government of Indonesia into taking affirmative and effective action in ensuring that Mr. Munir’s murderers are finally brought to justice, and that no other Indonesian need fear for his/her life for acting on their fundamental right to their freedom of expression.
Yours sincerely,
—————-
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Susilo Bambang Yudoyono
President
Republic of Indonesia
Presidential Palace
Jl. Medan Merdeka Utara
Jakarta Pusat 10010
INDONESIA
Tel: + 62 21 3845627 ext 1003
Fax: + 62 21 231 41 38, 345 2685, 345 7782
2. Mr. Agung Laksono
Chief of the Indonesian House of Representative
Gedung DPR/MPR RI
Jl. Gatot Subroto No. 6
Jakarta
INDONESIA
Tel: + 62 21 5715509; 5715344; 5715621
Fax: + 62 21 5714469, 5734389
3. Gen. Sutanto
Chief of National Police
Jl. Trunojoyo No. 3
Jakarta Selatan
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 721 8012
Fax: +62 21 720 7277
4. Mr. Abdul Rahman Saleh
Attorney General
Kejaksaan Agung RI
Jl. Sultan Hasanuddin No. 1
Jakarta Selatan
INDONESIA
Tel: + 62 21 7221337, 7397602
Fax: + 62 21 7250213
5. Mr. Hamid Awaluddin
Minister of Justice and Human Rights
Uahi Utoyo Usman S.H.,
Menteri Kehkiman,
JI. H.R. Rosuna Said Kav. 6-7
Kuningan, Jakarta Selatan
INDONESIA
Fax: +62 21 525 3095
6. Mr. Abdul Hakim Garuda Nusantara
Chairperson
KOMNAS HAM
Jl. Latuharhary No. 4B Menteng
Jakarta Pusat 10310
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 3925230
Fax: +62 21 3151042/3925227
E-mail: info@komnasham.or.id
7. Ms. Hina Jilani
Special Representative of the Secretary General for human rights defenders
Att: Melinda Ching Simon
Room 1-040
C/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 93 88
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 (ATTN: SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS)
8. Mr. Philip Alston
Special Rapporteur on Extra-judicial, Summary, or Arbitrary Executions
Attn: Lydie Ventre
Room 3-016
c/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 9155
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 (ATTN: SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR EXECUTIONS)
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ahrchk@ahrchk.org)
