Munir's family, police agree on team
Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post
Police and activists, close friends and family members of noted rights campaigner Munir agreed on Tuesday to form an independent investigative team to assist the police investigation into Munir's death.
Munir, the founder of both the Indonesian Human Rights Watch (Imparsial) and Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), died of arsenic poisoning aboard a Garuda flight from Jakarta to Amsterdam on Sept. 7.
A group of activists had submitted a list of suggested members of an independent investigative team to police almost one month ago.
Bambang Widjajanto of the Foundation of the Indonesia Legal Aid Institute (YLBHI) said after a meeting with police on Tuesday that lawyers, Munir's family members including widow Suciwati, and police had agreed on draft guidelines for the investigative team.
According to the draft, the team would work alongside the police, but report directly to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
It also has to complete its work within three months of its establishment, but its working period may be extended for another three months.
"The draft guidelines say that the team is authorized to convey its views to the police, monitor the investigation conducted by the police and also summon and question people connected to the case when necessary," Bambang said.
He promised that the team's work would not overlap with the police investigation since the draft guidelines specified that the team's main duty would be to support the police investigation.
Previously, President Susilo had agreed to establish an independent team to investigate the case and gave the authority to rights' activists to design the duties and structure of the team.
"There are two main structures in the investigative team, a working unit and supervisory unit. Representatives from the police, government and the Attorney General's Office will be placed in the working unit," Bambang explained.
Bambang added that the draft would be submitted to the President by the National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar in the next Cabinet meeting.
"We hope that we will get a presidential decree to mandate the establishment of the team so that it can work efficiently and effectively," Bambang said.
With a presidential decree, followed by a presidential instruction for the implementation of the team's functions, Bambang hopes that the team will have full authority to access any documents from agencies that are directly answerable to the President such as the State Intelligence Agency (BIN).
Bambang also said that activists had proposed the composition of the team, which included noted lawyer Todung Mulya Lubis, Muhammadiyah chairman Syafii Maarif and former first lady Sinta Nuriah as well as human rights campaigner Asmara Nababan.
Meanwhile, the working team would comprise Hendardi, Usman Hamid, Munarman, Attorney General's Office pre-trial director Putu Kusah and one representative from the police with the rank of brigadier general.
Imparsial director Rachland Nashidiq said that the composition of the team members could be changed by the President later.
"We're merely proposing those names and the President can change the names if he wishes," Rachland said.
Munir's widow Suciwati said that she felt optimistic that the team would help and encourage the police to solve the case faster.