Rights activist Munir named 'Man of the Year'

JAKARTA (JP): The man of the year, in the opinion of Ummat weekly, is Munir, coordinator of the Committee for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras).

Munir, also the recipient of the Yap Thiam Hien human rights award this year, received the award for his persistence in resisting state-sponsored violence.

The 33-year-old lawyer, who attended the awards ceremony on Monday with wife Suciwati and their infant son, said he was learning to deal with the public and media spotlight on his activities.

"I have to think how many times I should change caps to cover my face so people don't recognize me," he joked. He added that someone once came up to him and pronounced himself Munir's "enemy".

Abdillah Toha, the magazine's general manager, presented the honor.

Syafi'i Anwar, vice chief editor of Ummat, said the award jury chose Munir for his concern in fighting "politics of violence".

The three other nominees were politicians Amien Rais, the weekly's 1997 man of the year, Abdurrahman Wahid, chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama Muslim organization and the country's students.

Syafi'i said the jury did not choose students since it was difficult to choose an appropriate representative. Students have said they do not recognize leaders in their movement.

Syafi'i praised Munir as among the first to unhesitatingly reveal practices of cruelty and degradation of humanity conducted toward citizens.

He said Munir spoke for universal humanitarianism for his advocacy of victims of violence "without differentiating on religion, ethnicity or social class".

Munir consistently demanded political accountability of parties involved in abduction cases.

"Although his call (for the military to clarify the whereabouts of missing activists) is still... a military secret, his voice has been heard in the national and international fora."

Syafi'i said that Munir "indirectly played a role in the change... of policies by the Armed Forces authorities" regarding investigations into human rights violations allegedly done by its members.

The trial of 11 members of the Army's Special Force started Wednesday. Munir has repeatedly said the trial should not start before there is clarification on the fate of 13 remaining missing activists.

Syafi'i added that Munir, through Kontras, succeeded in strengthening the formation of Indonesia's civil society. Through Kontras, Munir "tried to balance and even fight the culture of violence", instilling public confidence that a civil society was capable of fighting authoritarian tendencies.

In his acceptance speech, Munir said he needed more "friends" to face the likelihood of more violence in the future.

Munir said tragedies this year such as riots and the shooting of demonstrators were examples of the "obstinacy" of the current elite in the face of the reform movement. (01)