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.