House supports investigation into Munir's death

House supports investigation into Munir's death

M. Taufiqurrahman and Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Amid calls for a speedy investigation into the death of rights
campaigner Munir, the House of Representatives has agreed to
support the establishment of a special investigative team.

The House agreed during a plenary meeting on Tuesday to press
the government to establish an independent team, under the
President's supervision, to assist an investigative team formed
by the National Police and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The House also called on the government to hand over a copy of
Munir's autopsy report to his family.

"The House will also set up a team comprising members from
Commission I and III to help resolve the case," the chairman of
House Commission III on law, human rights and security, Agustin
Teras Narang, said to a chorus of applause from House members.

During a meeting between the two commissions later in the day
it was decided that the special team would consists of 15 members
representing every major faction in the House.

The House's support for a full-fledged investigation into
Munir's death came only a day after human rights activists and
Munir's widow Suciwati met with Commission III to demand a
thorough investigation of Munir's death.

Munir died of arsenic poisoning aboard a Garuda Indonesia
flight a few hours before landing at Schiphol airport in
Amsterdam on Sept. 7. He was 39.

The House's swift endorsement of the establishment of the team
was something of a surprise given that Commission III appeared
reluctant to back such a team during a meeting with the
activists.

Commission III members Lukman Hakim Saefuddin of the United
Development Party (PPP) and Nursjahbani Katjasungkana of the
National Awakening Party (PKB) worried before the plenary meeting
on Tuesday there was little chance Munir's case would be raised
during the session because House leaders needed more information
about the issue.

"If the plenary meeting is silent on Munir's cause, I will
raise the issue myself," Lukman said.

Teras read out the results of Monday's meeting between
Commission III and the rights activists after interruptions by
Ahmad Saputra of the National Mandate Party (PAN) and Lukman.

Amid the intense pressure to solve Munir's death, his widow
and colleagues have been exposed to bullying and threats.

In the latest incident, the office of human rights watchdog
Imparsial in Menteng, Central Jakarta, received a threat similar
to one received by Munir's widow.

A box containing a severed chicken head with a note reading
"Do not connect the TNI to Munir's death. Do you want to end up
like this" was received by an employee of the rights group on
Tuesday morning.

Imparsial director Rachland Nashidik said that since the
threats mentioned the Indonesian Military, the TNI had to speak
out on the issue.

"If they are not involved, then say so publicly. The TNI chief
also must give the police team investigating the case all the
access it requires," Rachland said.

Commenting on Imparsial's demands, TNI chief Gen. Endriartono
Sutarto said "it is common for the military to become a scapegoat
in any sort of threats".

The TNI chief, however, pledged that the military would
provide any information to the police, stressing that the
military was not involved in Munir's death.