|
 |
Contact: John M. Miller, National Coordinator, ETAN
ETAN Urges Justice for
Munir on 12th Anniversary of
Assassination
September 7, 2016 - On the 12th
anniversary of the murder of Munir Said Thalib, a
prominent Indonesian human rights activist, the East
Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN)
urged U.S. Secretary of State John
Kerry to press “President Widodo to fully
investigate Munir’s murder and hold accountable all
those responsible for his death.”
The group wrote “that
resolving the case is important to consolidating
Indonesia’s democracy.”
Munir was poisoned on a flight to Amsterdam and
evidence strongly points to the involvement of
senior officials of the State Intelligence Agency,
known as BIN.
While a few low-level participants in the murder have
been tried and convicted, high-level
officials have yet to be brought to justice for
their involvement in Munir’s assassination. Muchdi
Purwoprandjono, the chair of BIN at the time, was
found not guilty in 2008 due to lack of evidence
amidst allegations of the intimidation of witnesses.
A.M. Hendropriyono, a former general and vice
chair of BIN who allegedly headed meetings
discussing Munir’s murder, has yet to be indicted
for his role in Munir’s death.
ETAN continues to call on President Joko Widodo to
fully investigate the murder and hold all of those
accountable for their roles in Munir’s
assassination. Recent appointments raise doubts about President
Widodo’s seriousness about pursuing justice for past
human rights violations. Hendropriyono was
also involved in the 1989 Talangsari Massacre and
the
1999
terror campaign in Timor-Leste.
He served as an advisor to President Widodo’s
transition team in 2014. He was recently appointed
chair of
the
Indonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKPI). Former general Wiranto, indicted in Timor-Leste for his role in government-sanctioned violence during the vote for independence overseen by the UN, was recently appointed as Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs.
For more on the Munir’s murder see ETAN’s
backgrounder here:
http://etan.org/factsheets/munir.htm
The East
Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN)
was founded in 1991. ETAN supports democracy, human
rights and justice in Timor-Leste, West Papua and
Indonesia. Website: www.etan.org Twitter: @etan009. United States
Department of State 7 September 2016 Dear Secretary Kerry,
After 12 years, we remain disappointed that all of those responsible for
the murder of Indonesian human rights activist Munir
Said Thalib have not yet been brought to justice.
We continue to call on the Indonesian government to hold accountable those
responsible for Munir’s death. His murder was clearly
directed by officials from Indonesia’s intelligence
agency, BIN.
Two years ago, on the 10th anniversary of Munir's murder
you acknowledged that “Still
today, justice has not been served. Full accountability
for all those allegedly involved remains elusive.”
. Two
years later little has changed.
Although Pollycarpus Priyanto was convicted and served time for the
murder, government officials have not been held
accountable for their alleged roles in the crime.
Evidence found by the
official fact-finding team credibly points to the role
of intelligence officials in the assassination.
We know you agree that resolving the case is important to consolidating
Indonesia’s democracy.
Instead officials credibly alleged to have engaged in serious violations
of human rights, including Munir's killing, continue to
be appointed to high offices and serve in key positions.
These appointments raise questions about President
Widodo’s seriousness in pursuing justice for past human
rights violations.
Recently, President Widodo appointed former
general Wiranto, indicted in Timor-Leste for his role in
official violence surrounding UN-organized independence
vote in 1999, as Indonesia’s
Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security
Affairs.
A.M. Hendropriyono,
former vice chair of the state intelligence agency BIN,
allegedly chaired meetings planning Munir’s murder.
Hendropriyono was also involved in the 1989 Talangsari
Massacre and the
1999
terror campaign in Timor-Leste.
He served as an advisor to President Widodo’s transition
team in 2014. He recently became chair of
the
Indonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKPI). President Joko Widodo campaigned on resolving past
human rights cases, including Munir’s. We urge you to
join us and human rights advocates in Indonesia and
elsewhere in pressing President Widodo to fully
investigate Munir’s murder and hold accountable all
those responsible for his death. Secretary Kerry,
you stated on August 15 in advance of Indonesian
Independence Day, “The relationship between the United
States and Indonesia will continue to advance and stand
as an example of what can be accomplished when two
nations pursue a common vision together.”
The common vision
of respect for the rule of law and human rights can only
happen if the U.S. puts pressure on President Widodo’s
government to ensure government officials are held
accountable for past human rights abuses. Yours sincerely,
|
 |
Become an ETAN Sustainer, make a pledge via credit card here
Background | Take Action | News | Links | What You Can Do | Resources | Contact ETAN Store | Estafeta | Images | Home | Timor Postings | Search | Site Index |
|
|||||||||||||||||||
