UPDATE (Indonesia): Need for further investigation in Munir case 

[RE: UA-164-2004: The family receives death threats for demanding an impartial inquiry into the death of Munir; UP-30-2005: Unveiling of suspect in Munir’s death may end further inquiries; UP-47-2005: State intelligence officers delay Munir investigation; UP-72-2005: Mandate of fact-finding team into Munir’s murder should be extended and made more effective; UP-83-2005: Police fail to follow up on fact-finding report into Munir case; President does not react to requests for monitoring of the investigation; UP-96-2005: Trial of Pollycarpus ignores fact-finding team reports; UP-125-2005: President and Parliament must audit the police investigation performance in Munir’s case; UP-139-2005: Attack on supporters of Munir outside Jakarta court

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UP-159-2005: INDONESIA: Need for further investigation in Munir case

INDONESIA: Fair trial, Rule of law
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Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you of updated information we have received regarding the trial of Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto, the defendant in the murder of human rights activist Munir Said Thalib in Central Jakarta District Court.

On 1 December 2005, the prosecutor Domu Sihite told the court that the defendant had been proven beyond reasonable doubt to have committed premeditated murder and falsified airlines documents. He therefore recommended a life sentence for Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto.

Along with seriously considering the prosecutors call for a life sentence, the judge should also request further investigation into this case. This is particularly important so that those others who are allegedly involved in this case are also brought to justice.

This case has generated much international concern. Many within the international community have shown interest in this case, and hope that its outcome will improve the law and human rights situation in Indonesia. On October 2005, 68 U.S. Representatives wrote to President Yudhoyono regarding the Munir investigation. The bipartisan signatories urged the directly elected president to release the fact-finding team’s report and expressed concern over the prosecution’s apparent negligence of the report. The letter also suggested that he “create a new commission with a strong mandate to explore evidence wherever it may lead, including enforcement of full cooperation of all state agencies including the State Intelligence Agency (BIN).”

In light of the above, once again, we urge you to write the President of Indonesia requesting his direct intervention in this case, so that justice may further be ensured. The President should ensure that the initial investigation by the police is followed up. He should also appoint a special independent monitoring body to observe the conduct of the police investigation.

The AHRC also calls to all concerned groups and persons to attend the trial of Munir’s murder (the trial against Pollycarpus) as observers. The next hearing is the defense council arguments. The court will being held on Monday, 12 December 2005, from 9:00 am, at the Central Jakarta District Court, 3rd floor, room 1, Jl. Gajah Mada Jakarta Pusat, Indonesia.

To see our previous Urgent Appeals regarding Munir’s case, please visit:

UA-164-2004: The family receives death threats for demanding an impartial inquiry into the death of Munir
UP-30-2005: Unveiling of suspect in Munir’s death may end further inquiries
UP-47-2005: State intelligence officers delay Munir investigation
UP-72-2005: Mandate of fact-finding team into Munir’s murder should be extended and made more effective
UP-83-2005: Police fail to follow up on fact-finding report into Manir case; President does not react to requests for monitoring of the investigation
UP-96-2005: Trial of Pollycarpus ignores fact-finding team reports
UP-125-2005: President and Parliament must audit the police investigation performance in Munir’s case
UP-139-2005: Attack on supporters of Munir outside Jakarta court

Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission
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