Govt pledge in Munir case queried<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
One year after leading human rights activist Munir was murdered
\nonboard a flight from Jakarta to the Netherlands, the government
\nhas failed to properly investigate and prosecute those behind his
\ndeath, the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a
\nstatement on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
In its statement, the HRW called on President Susilo Bambang
\nYudhoyono to set up a high-level committee to audit the
\nperformance of the police investigation into Munir's killing and
\nestablish why key recommendations and findings of the government-
\nsanctioned Fact-Finding Team (TPF), which has implicated senior
\nintelligence officers in the murder, have apparently been
\nignored.<\/p>\n
"Munir's murder represents a return to the bad old days in
\nIndonesia when independent activists faced the risk of personal
\ninjury or even death," said Brad Adams, Asia director for the
\nHRW. "Solving this case and bringing the killers and their
\nsponsors to justice is a big test for President Yudhoyono's
\ngovernment and its commitment to the rule of law."<\/p>\n
Munir, cofounder the National Commission for Missing Persons
\nand Victims of Violence (Kontras) and human rights group
\nImparsial, died on Sept. 7 on a Garuda flight, just hours before
\nthe flight arrived at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport.<\/p>\n
Two months later, the Dutch Forensic Institute said its
\nautopsy found lethal levels of arsenic in Munir's body. A Garuda
\npilot is standing trial for adding the arsenic to a drink offered
\nto Munir on the first leg of the flight from Jakarta to
\nSingapore.<\/p>\n
In December 2004, Susilo formed the TPF, which was tasked with
\nassisting the police to investigate Munir's death. The TPF ended
\nits six-month mandate on June 23 and produced a lengthy report
\nwith detailed findings and recommendations.<\/p>\n
The HRW called on the government to make public the report and
\nthe recommendations of the TPF and to order the full cooperation
\nof all state agencies, including the National Intelligence Agency
\n(BIN), with the police and any other official bodies
\ninvestigating the murder.<\/p>\n
"Munir was an extraordinary man," said Adams. "This case is an
\nextraordinary case that needs extraordinary measures to resolve
\nit."<\/p>\n
The HRW also asked the government to investigate threats and
\nintimidation against TPF members and others seeking justice for
\nMunir's murder and to provide protection for those facing
\nthreats.<\/p>\n
Rights activists have prepared a series of events to
\ncommemorate Munir's death. The programs will begin on Wednesday
\nwith a march from the BIN office on Jl. Kalibata in South Jakarta
\nto the presidential palace in Central Jakarta. A moment of
\nsilence and candle lighting will be held later in the evening
\nbeside the Proclamation Statue in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The events' committee chairman, Ori Rahman, said there would
\nbe a film screening in several towns across Indonesia to recall
\nMunir's struggle for the country's recognition of human rights.<\/p>\n
Wife -- Page 2<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-pledge-in-munir-case-queried-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }