The beginning or the end?
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.