Team set to probe Munir's death
Team set to probe Munir's death
Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
The government-sanctioned fact-finding team formed to assist the
police investigation into the death of rights activist Munir is
ready to begin work, a police officer said on Monday.
Chief of the 13-strong team, Brig, Gen. Marsudi Hanafi said he
and his colleagues would regroup on Tuesday to put together all
the information each member possessed and set a timetable.
"We will then exchange our data with the police team's
findings," said Marsudi, a senior detective.
Presidential Regulation No. 111/2004 which was signed by
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Dec. 23 allows the fact-
finding team to convey its views to the police, closely monitor
the investigation conducted by the police and summon and question
people connected to the case when necessary.
The team has to complete its work within three months of its
establishment, but its term could be extended for another three
months.
In the regulation, the President appointed Marsudi the team's
chairman, with rights activist Asmara Nababan as his deputy.
Members of the team include Bambang Widjojanto of the
Foundation of the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute (YLBHI), Usman
Hamid from the Indonesian Human Rights Watch (Imparsial),
Attorney General's Office pre-trial director I Putu Kusa, human
rights campaigners Smita Notosusanto, Kemala Tjandrakirana and
Rachland Nashidik.
However, noted lawyer Todung Mulya Lubis, former first lady
Sinta Nuriah and Muhammadiyah chairman Syafii Maarif, who were
proposed by rights activists and the National Police, were not
included in the team.
Munir, the founder of both Imparsial and the Commission for
Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), died of
arsenic poisoning aboard a Garuda flight from Jakarta to
Amsterdam on Sept. 7.
Police started their probe into Munir's untimely death after
the Netherlands Forensic Institute disclosed the cause of death.
The institute said it found excessive levels of arsenic in
Munir's stomach, urine and blood.
The police have questioned over 30 people, including Garuda
flight attendants who were on duty the day Munir died, but have
not named any suspects.