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A year after Munir's murder demonstrators ‘assail’ BIN offices

Detik.com - September 7, 2005

Melly Febrida, Jakarta – Hundreds of supporters have called on the government to solve the case of the murdered human rights activist Munir. The demand was conveyed during an action held at the offices of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) on Jalan Pejaten Timur in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta, on Wednesday September 7.

The action also commemorated the anniversary of Munir’s death. Munir was poisoned to death on a flight to the Netherlands on September 7 last year. The sole suspect in the case, Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto, is currently being tried for the murder.

Munir’s supporters were from the Solidarity Alliance for Munir and Democracy (Aliansi Solidaritas untuk Munir dan Demokrasi, Asumsi) which is made up of a number of non-government organisations including the Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation and the Indonesian Environment Forum (Walhi).

The hundreds of demonstrators filled the road in front of the BIN offices resulting in a traffic jam. Not just carrying posters, they also brought wreaths of flowers that were placed at front gates of the office.

Munir’s wife, Suciwati, also laid a wreath of flowers. “These flowers are a symbol that the people want the law to be upheld, so that no more victims fall”, she said.

Suciwati said that the large amount of support from ordinary people indicates that Munir did not just belong to her but to all people. “I demand justice, because if this case is tried transparently and honestly justice will defiantly be served", she asserted.

After placing the wreath of flowers, the demonstrators held a happening art action that depicted a child suffering oppression by security forces.

The demonstrators demanded that arresting and trying the mastermind behind the murder, not just the perpetrator who committed the crime, will solve Munir’s murder.

Asumsi said in a press statement that it believes that state policy has been proven not to care about the case and is only pretending to solve Munir’s murder. A Fact Finding Team was of course formed but it experienced many obstacles in finding the perpetrator of the murder plot.

As well as demanding that the case be solved, they also called for protection for human rights defenders in Indonesia and rejected the reemergence of militarism. The Pasar Minggu sectoral police were tightly guarding the action which as of 1.45pm was still taking place. Demonstrators plan for it to be continued at the State Palace. (umi)

[Translated by James Balowski.]
 

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