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Activists demand release of Munir report
The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Sat, 10/07/2006 10:01 AM
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The government must release the final report and recommendations of the presidential fact-finding team set up to investigate the murder of activist Munir, an international human rights watchdog said.
New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said the government of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono should also establish an independent body to audit the police investigation and the Attorney General's response to Munir's murder.
Munir, a respected activist, was poisoned on a flight to Amsterdam two years ago. He was 38 years old.
The Supreme Court overturned the conviction Wednesday of the only person serving time for the murder, pilot Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto.
The government's fact-finding team was established in December 2004. Its report has thus far been withheld from the public.
""The police and the attorney general's office have steadfastly continued to ignore evidence and recommendations submitted to them by the presidential fact-finding team, which also implicated senior intelligence officers and airline officials in involvement in the murder,"" said Brad Adams, HRW's Asia director.
He said the truth must be uncovered, including who ordered and planned the killing, ""no matter where the trail leads"".
Similar demands to publish the report were made Wednesday by Usman Hamid, a former member of the investigative team. Usman leads the independent Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence, which Munir founded.
The HRW also called on the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) to extend full cooperation to the police and any subsequent independent investigative body.
Another prominent human rights watchdog called on the government to create an independent commission with a robust mandate to investigate the murder of the outspoken rights campaigner.
New York-based Human Rights First said in a statement made available to The Jakarta Post on Friday that such a commission was needed because the police have failed to act on leads identified by the fact-finding team.
The President has said he will ""revitalize"" the police investigation.
""Further investigation was already needed to identify whoever planned and ordered the killing. Now even the existing conviction hangs in the balance,"" Human Rights First said.
It said a new and effective inquiry could look for new evidence to be used by the Supreme Court if it agrees to review the case. A special Human Rights Court could also take on the case if the crime is shown to be one that falls under its mandate, such as a crime against humanity.
On Oct. 16, Human Rights First will present its annual award to Munir and to his wife Suciwati, in recognition of their contribution to human rights and to highlight the need for accountability in his case.
