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 A Conviction in Indonesia (1/25/08)   Munir   Reformasi & Resistance: Human Rights Defenders and Counterterrorism in Indonesia (PDF-420KB) (PDF-206KB)  Human Rights First discusses a defenders in Asia and the Munir case on Voice of America (Indonesian) (January 16, 2009) (PDF-20KB) |
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Indonesia Activist Poisoned: Demand Answers One of Indonesia's foremost human rights defenders, Munir, died six months ago on a flight to Amsterdam on the Indonesian state airline Garuda. An autopsy revealed a fatal dose of arsenic in the activist's system. Due to the efforts of Munir’s colleagues and activists like you, at the end of last year the Indonesian government approved an independent fact-finding team to work alongside the police investigation. But progress has been slow. One obstacle has been the failure of the airline to cooperate fully with the investigation. The role of the airline is important. Not only did the death take place aboard a Garuda flight, but there have also been widespread media reports of discrepancies in the account of the off-duty Garuda pilot who offered Munir his business-class seat. On March 1, the police brigadier general who chairs the fact-finding team stated that the pilot “could be named a suspect in the case.” Obstacles include:
Background The Investigation On the night of September 6, 2004, Munir left Jakarta for the Netherlands, where he had received a scholarship to study international humanitarian law. By the time he reached his first stop, Singapore, he was already feeling sick. On the flight to Amsterdam, Munir began vomiting violently and experiencing severe pain. A doctor on board attempted to treat him, but he died early on the morning of September 7. An autopsy by the Dutch Forensic Institute found that Munir's system had ten times the safe level of arsenic. After considerable delay Munir's wife, Suciwati, was given a copy of the autopsy report by the police department's head of criminal investigation on December 6. President Yudhoyono met with Munir's wife and colleagues late in 2004 and pledged to support an independent investigation. The human rights community in Indonesia submitted a proposal to the government including the suggested membership and mandate of an independent team and met with the police to agree on the scope of the team. The Indonesian government eventually green-lighted an independent team in late December 2004 under Presidential Decision No. 111/2004. However, the team's limited scope and membership disappointed many observers. Several high-profile figures were left off the final team, and its mandate was limited to “helping” the police investigation from a subordinate position, without clear powers to evaluate the investigation, provide unsolicited advice, or question experts. Several potential members declined to join the team, describing it as “planned to fail,” though most decided to do what they could within the limited mandate. The team is chaired by a one-star police general and includes the prominent human rights figures Asmara Nababan, Kamala Tjandrakirana, Usman Hamid, Rachland Nashidik, Hendardi and Munarman. It met for the first time on January 13, 2005. Munir's Work Munir came to prominence as an outspoken critic of the military in the chaotic years surrounding President Suharto’s fall from power. Munir and the organizations he helped to build went on to play an important role in many of the major human rights issues in the country, combining fearless advocacy, and meticulous research. Munir worked in various positions at the Legal Aid Foundation before founding the Commission for Disappearances and Victims of Violence (Komisi untuk Orang Hilang dan Korban Kekerasan, or Kontras) in 1998. Kontras played an important role in the struggle for accountability after the disappearance of pro-democracy activists during the transition from authoritarian rule. The organization was also at the forefront of human rights investigations into state violence in East Timor, Ambon, and Aceh. Munir had recently helped found a new NGO, Imparsial, and was serving as its executive director. He also served on the Commission to Investigate Human Rights Violations in East Timor after the violence there in 1999. Munir played an important role in uncovering evidence of military responsibility for the violence and recommending action against high-ranking officers. Read about the last Defender Alert on Munir at: http://action.humanrightsfirst.org/campaign/ munir_02/nal7nimdb Letter: Mr. Ferhat Sartono, Dear Mr. Sartono, As you know, the leading human rights activist Munir died on Garuda flight 974 on September 7, 2004 en route from Singapore to Amsterdam. It was later determined that he died as a result of arsenic poisoning. Garuda’s cooperation is extremely important to the investigation. I am pleased to know that top Garuda executives have met several teams with the fact-finding team created by Presidential Decree No. 111 of 2004. Unfortunately there have been widespread reports of shortcomings in Garuda’s cooperation. Thank you for your assistance in this most urgent matter, Cc: |
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