UPDATE (Indonesia): Munir’s murderers remain at large, as official investigations take a turn for the worst 

(RE: UA-164-2004: INDONESIA: 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; UP-159-2005: Need for further investigation in Munir case; UP-165-2005: Pollycarpus sentenced to 14-years imprisonment for murder of Munir; UP-042-2006: President must take firm steps to ensure investigation of Munir’s death follows court recommendations; UP-085-2006: High Court rejects appeal in Munir’s case)
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INDONESIA: Assassination, Delay in Justice, Improper Investigation, Defunct Rule-of-Law. 
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Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the recent developments in the assassination case of Indonesia’s most prominent and internationally renowned human rights activist, the late Mr. Munir Said Thalidin. Munir died of arsenic poisoning aboard a Garuda Indonesia airways flight destined for Amsterdam on 7 September 2004 (UA-164-2006). Two years after Munir’s death, the Indonesian police are yet to arrest any new suspects in the ongoing criminal investigation. This is largely due to the prosecution’s total failure in advancing investigatory procedures into the dubious circumstances surrounding Munir’s death.

Major obstacles in the investigation include a lack of conclusive evidence from the crime scene, the unwillingness of the defendant, Garuda Indonesia Airways Pilot Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto, to cooperate with the authorities, and the inexcusable subversion tactics employed by the Indonesian Intelligentsia.

The lack of conclusive evidence at the crime scene is largely due to the significant delay in the commencement of an official investigation, as no immediate enquiry was initially made. Dutch investigative authorities were unable to inspect the crime scene once the flight touched down in Amsterdam, because they had not been given permission by the Indonesian government to examine the plane. In fact, the crime scene was not investigated until much later, after the plane was returned to Jakarta International Airport .

It also remains unclear as to how the suspect, Mr. Priyanto, could’ve acted alone in poisoning Munir. An Indonesian court judge has already suggested the involvement of others, including; Ramelgia Anwar (the Vice President of Corporate Security), Major-General Muchdi PR (Deputy of the Badan Intelijen Negera (BIN), a State Intelligence Body), and Yeti Susmiarti and Oedi Irianto, two Garuda Airlines crew members who served Munir refreshments aboard the flight. However, due to the defendant’s silence and the prosecutions lack of evidence, none of the alleged coconspirators have been brought to trial.

The courts have also ruled that the state intelligence service, BIN, played a crucial role in the planning and carrying out of Munir’s assassination. Again, no progress has been made in investigating those alleged coconspirators within BIN.

Meanwhile, human rights activists have filed a 13 billion Rupiah (US$1.4 million dollar) lawsuit against the national carrier, Garuda Indonesia , over Munir’s murder. The lawsuit accuses the airline of gross and unforgivable negligence in the death of the human rights lawyer. Munir was poisoned in the business class section of the plane, allegedly by off-duty Garuda Airways pilot Pollycarpus Priyanto, exactly two years ago this month.

Despite Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s public commitment to solving Munir’s case, and his appointment of a Presidential Fact Finding Team (TPF), the government has still not been able to implement the TPF recommendations. Even though the president has called for more thorough investigations to be carried out, the fact that the very BIN agents and airline crewmembers allegedly involved in Munir’s murder are still free, is a disgrace to the Indonesian justice system.

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

UP-085-2006: INDONESIA: High Court rejects appeal in Munir’s case
UP-042-2006: INDONESIA: President must take firm steps to ensure investigation of Munir’s death follows court recommendations
UP-165-2005: INDONESIA: Pollycarpus sentenced to 14-years imprisonment for murder of Munir
UP-159-2005: INDONESIA: Need for further investigation in Munir case
UP-139-2005: INDONESIA: Attack on supporters of Munir outside Jakarta court
UP-125-2005: INDONESIA: President and Parliament must audit the police investigation performance in Munir’s case
UP-96-2005: INDONESIA: Trial of Pollycarpus ignores fact-finding team reports
UP-83-2005: INDONESIA: Police fail to follow up on fact-finding report into Manir case; President does not react to requests for monitoring of the investigation
UP-72-2005:INDONESIA: Mandate of fact-finding team into Munir’s murder should be extended and made more effective
UP-47-2005: INDONESIA: State intelligence officers delay Munir investigation
UP-30-2005: INDONESIA: Unveiling of suspect in Munir’s death may end further inquiries
UA-164-2004: INDONESIA: The family receives death threats for demanding an impartial inquiry into the death of Munir

SUGGESTED ACTION:
In the humanitarian and activist spirit of the late Mr. Thalidin, please write to the authorities listed below, expressing your grave concern over the stagnation of justice and proper procedure in the ongoing investigations into Mr. Thalidin’s murder. Please apply the necessary pressure on the Indonesian government and the relevant judicial and law-enforcement authorities to ensure a fair, efficient and effective procedure of investigation, one that is free of political interference, so that Mr. Thalidin’s murderers may be brought to justice without further delay.

To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER