TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Groups doubt Jokowi's will to try past rights abuses
The Solidarity Action Committee for Munir (Kasum), a coalition of human rights groups advocating for justice in the murder of prominent human rights defender Munir Said Thalib, is preparing a lawsuit against President Joko âJokowiâ Widodo over the release of Munirâs convicted murderer, Pollycarpus Budihari Prijanto
Change text size
Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
T
he Solidarity Action Committee for Munir (Kasum), a coalition of human rights groups advocating for justice in the murder of prominent human rights defender Munir Said Thalib, is preparing a lawsuit against President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo over the release of Munir's convicted murderer, Pollycarpus Budihari Prijanto.
Kasum spokesperson Choirul Anam said that the coalition was preparing to sue Jokowi for a miscarriage of justice after his administration, through the Law and Human Rights Ministry and its newly inaugurated minister, Yasonna H. Laoly, granted parole to Pollycarpus.
'During his [presidential] campaign, Jokowi repeatedly promised to solve the Munir case, as well as other human rights violations. In fact, Munir's murderer walked free as soon as Jokowi became president,' Anam said Monday.
'Instead of letting his minister sign the parole-release, Jokowi could have taken the initiative to closely review the case as soon as he officially took over the government, just like what he did by issuing various cards to promote health and education services. But he did not,' he added.
Pollycarpus was released after accumulating a large number of sentence-remissions during his imprisonment at Sukamiskin Penitentiary, which began in June 2008. He received remissions on 11 occasions for a total of 42 months.
The Supreme Court increased Pollycarpus' sentence to 20 years in 2008 after he failed to win a case review. In 2013, it was cut to 14 years.
Anam cited the alleged involvement of former chief of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN), AM Hendropriyono ' who was formerly involved in Jokowi's campaign team ' as a factor driving Jokowi's reluctance to review the case as promised.
Hendropriyono, Jokowi's top advisor, was accused of masterminding Munir's murder, although no evidence has surfaced to prove the allegation.
Kasum thus called for the National Police to open an investigation and follow up on 'clues' that might break open the case.
Separately, Cabinet Secretary Andi Widjajanto defended Yasonna's decision to release Pollycarpus.
Andi offered assurances that Jokowi would still respect his earlier commitment to resolving past human rights abuses, including finding the mastermind behind Munir's murder.
'His commitment still holds. There will soon be a meeting between the law and human rights minister, the attorney general and the coordinating political, legal and security affairs minister to investigate what can be done in terms of human rights violation cases,' he added.
Andi said that recommendations from activists and Komnas HAM (National Commission on Human Rights) had been forwarded to the three ministers.
Though pledging to participate in the dialogue, Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno urged everyone to look to the future. 'Let's not [take a] step back. This country [should] build a prosperous future, not only to point out mistakes here and there.'
