James Balowski, Jakarta
"Based on everything we have obtained, the [National Intelligence] Agency [BIN] is believed to have played a major role in a well-planned conspiracy to murder Munir", Asmara Nababan, the deputy chairperson of the Fact Finding Team (TPF) investigating the renowned human-rights activist told Agence France Presse on June 23.
The TPF submitted its final report to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on June 23. "We have the names of people who have played key roles, but we cannot determine how far is their involvement in the murder", Nababan said. Susilo told the team that he was committed to bring the perpetrators of the murder to justice.
The June 23 Jakarta Post reported that a "source" said the role of each BIN official in the murder is described in the nearly 100-page report, including who played which roles, such as the mastermind and the final executioner.
Speaking to the Jakarta daily Kompas, Nababan also said that the TPF has some ideas about the motives behind the murder, but they were as yet inconclusive. This, he said, was because the TPF's mandate ended before it had been allowed access to a number of BIN's documents.
Munir died aboard a Garuda Airlines flight hours before landing in Amsterdam on September 7. His death was originally blamed on a heart attack but the autopsy found he died of arsenic poisoning. Police have detained a Garuda pilot, Pollycarpus Priyanto, and two cabin crew who served food to the activist, as suspects. Priyanto claims to have been recruited by BIN in 2002.
Another TPF member, Munarman, told AFP on June 22 that they had evidence that Priyanto was in frequent telephone contact with several members of BIN "before and after" Munir's death. But he said it was up to the police to determine if it had anything to do with the murder.
BIN's former director, retired General AM Hendropriyono, has refused to answer a summons from the team, accusing it of arrogance. Munarman said police should question Hendropriyono and several of his deputies — particularly Muchdi Purwopranjono. Purwopranjono, a former elite special forces Kopassus commander, was sacked following Munir's investigation into the 1998 abductions of student activists.
In its report, however, the TPF criticised the police's poor performance in handling the case and will ask Yudhoyono to establish a supervisory team to ensure that police deal with the case seriously. "We have learned that the police failed to raise key questions during the questioning of witnesses, including Muchdi", Nababan told the June 23 Jakarta Post.
The report also puts an end to suspicions that the TNI (armed forces) was involved in the murder, with Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi telling reporters: "It's clear, there is no-one from the TNI who is involved". He refused, however, to say whether there was any involvement of retired or "rogue" TNI members.
TPF member Rachland Nashiddik explained that the perpetrator tried to implicate the TNI by sending threatening letters to Munir's wife, Suciwati, warning people not to connect the murder with the TNI.
Although Asmara and TPF secretary Usman Hamid say they are convinced the president will stick to his promise to see the case solved, they warn that it will depend on institutions under Yudhoyono's authority. "Will they want to fully support it or not?", asked Usman, adding that in discussions with the president they had warned Yudhoyono that pressure is already being applied on the police officers investigating the case. "There are external factors, resulting in their work not being optimal", he said without giving details about the source and form of this pressure.
According to the June 28 Tempo magazine, an officer from police headquarters admitted to the magazine that they will need "extra powers" if the case is to be solved. "This case carries a great deal of political baggage", said the officer who insisted anonymity, adding that it would be better for the police not to be left to conduct the investigation alone.
The source also told Tempo that pressure is increasing because based on the TPF's findings, police have found a number of new leads and believe they will soon crack the case. "It is already very clear. Just wait for the announcement", said the source.
From Green Left Weekly, July 6, 2005.
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