The beginning or the end?

The murderer of Munir has been found guilty. Pending his appeal, Pollycarpus B. Priyanto is facing a 14-year incarceration for lacing the activist's food with arsenic during a flight to Amsterdam in September.

Two Garuda cabin crew members also face separate trials for their alleged roles in the murder.

Though Pollycarpus continues to plead innocence, the Central Jakarta Court on Tuesday found the prosecution's case overwhelmingly convincing.

But the most striking outcome of this high profile case was not in the verdict itself but the failure to clearly establish a possible link between Pollycarpus and darker forces strongly suspected of being behind the murder.

Judges stopped short of expressing their belief that the defendant was part of a larger conspiracy to assassinate the outspoken critic of the Soeharto regime, the National Intelligence Agency and the Indonesian Military. They did, however, urge investigations to be pursued further.

Following the prosecution's lead, the court concluded that the motive for the murder was to silence Munir's criticism of the military and the government.

Despite the conclusion of the case, the most intriguing question -- raised by Pollycarpus himself during proceedings -- was left unanswered: "What makes Munir so significant for me that I had to kill him?"

Why indeed?

This was no ordinary crime of passion. It was a calculated execution of a man who had been a thorn on the side of despots and military rulers.

It is almost absurd to think that a regular Garuda pilot would act in measured revenge for his simple devotion to autocrats.

Though they remarked in the most vague terms, it was clear that judges also agreed that the defendant was part of a more sinister plot, which may involve more powerful individuals or institutions.

Once again, Pollycarpus' assertion of being a "scapegoat" rightly daunt this case from closure.

A government-sanctioned team in its earlier investigation found strong evidence to suggest that Pollycarpus had been in contact with state intelligence agency officers ahead of the murder. They also found that he had frequently been associated with various activities that were unusual for a commercial pilot.

We welcome a statement by the National Police expressing their determination to continue the investigation. But given the sinister elements suspected to be behind the murder, we reserve judgment on its candor and effectiveness.

There have been too many cases of assassination, kidnapping and torture which remain unresolved -- not because of a lack of compelling evidence, but a lack of political will.

We commend the civil society network, which has continued to keep this particular case high on the agenda. Our hope is that the public will throw its support behind resolving this murder, finding justice and allowing Munir's memory to rest in peace.

It's about doing the right thing.

For many years Munir stood among the lonely few doing the right thing, although most of us were oblivious to the great injustice and the persecutions going on around us.

Ultimately, Munir may have paid the price for being in the vanguard of righteousness.

It is now our time to defend Munir's memory and bring peace of mind to his widow and child.

The conviction of Pollycarpus should not be the end of the case. It is merely the beginning to exposing the great sins of crimes against humanity perpetrated under the guise of national interest, and at the expense of regular Indonesians.

We should also see through any government moves to promote Pollycarpus' conviction as a step toward a proper protection of human rights or to holding the elite accountable.

The investigation and prosecution was not even the least they could do. The bare minimum of executive action remains wanting.

We cannot let this case die, like Munir did. Instead it must be the beginning of a grisly end -- to impunity, subversion and state-sponsored terror.