UPDATE (Indonesia): Pollycarpus sentenced to 14-years imprisonment for murder of Munir 

[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; UP-159-2005: Need for further investigation in Munir case]
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UP-165-2005: INDONESIA: Pollycarpus sentenced to 14-years imprisonment for murder of Munir

INDONESIA: Fair trial; Rule of law
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Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) would like to inform you that Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto, the defendant in the murder of human rights activist Munir Said Thalib, has been sentenced to 14-years imprisonment today, in Central Jakarta District Court. According to the verdict, Pollycarpus was proven beyond reasonable doubt to have committed premeditated murder in collaboration with Yeti Susmiarti and Oedi Irianto, and to have falsified Garuda documents on his own with no collaboration from senior Garuda employees. The apparent motive for killing Munir was that the human rights activist was too critical of the government.

Pollycarpus will reportedly appeal this verdict, which may result in his acquittal, as is common in Indonesia.

In the meanwhile, Pollycarpus is not the only perpetrator in Munir’s death, but he is the only one to be brought to court. The presidential fact finding team stated that Pollycarpus was just one of those responsible in the conspiracy to murder Munir. The team’s findings however, were not taken into account by either the Indonesian police or prosecution. Furthermore, the police investigation team that began their work after the fact finding team’s mandate expired, have yet to publicize their results, two months after completing their investigation. Another concern is that the chair of the police investigation team, Brig Gen Marsudi Hanafi, who was also the head of the fact finding team, has been transferred to a consultative post (Expert Staff of Chief of National Police) at the National Police Headquarters.

Former members of the fact finding team, Usman Hamid (Coordinator of Kontras) and Rachland Nasidik (Director of Imparsial) have been accused of defamation by Hendropriyono, the former chief of the Indonesian state intelligence body (BIN). According to Hendropriyono, this is based on their allegations that he was involved in Munir’s murder.

While President Yudhiyono has made many promises and remarks regarding Munir’s case, he has taken little effective action to ensure that justice is served. Munir’s case is indeed a key indicator of Indonesia’s commitment to human rights and the rule of law. Unless a proper investigation is conducted by independent agencies with the authority to ensure full cooperation from all state agencies including BIN, and unless all those responsible for Munir’s death are prosecuted and punished in accordance with international standards, there will be no justice to Munir and his family. The failure of justice in this case will mean a failure in many other cases of human rights violations. The AHRC urges the Indonesian president, parliament and other state authorities to immediately take measures towards ensuring justice. We further urge all Indonesian civil groups as well as all other concerned individuals to write to the Indonesian government urgently and demand that these measures are taken.

Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission
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