Document - Indonesia: Failure to Deliver Full Justice for the Killing of Human Rights Defender Munir

On 7 September 2004, Munir was found dead on a ﬂight from Jakarta to the Netherlands. An autopsy carried out by the Dutch authorities showed that he had been poisoned with arsenic.

(WASHINGTON DC) - Nine years after the killing of human rights defender Munir Said Thalib, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono must take decisive and concrete action to ensure those responsible – including those at the highest levels – are brought to justice, and that all defenders of human rights are better protected.

President Yudhoyono, who has himself described Munir’s case as a “test of our history” has just one year of his presidency remaining, in which to ensure full justice and reparations are delivered. The President’s failure so far to do so, at a time the protection of human rights defenders across the country remains seriously under threat, raises serious questions about his legacy.

One of Indonesia’s most prominent human rights campaigners, Munir took up the cause of dozens of activists who had been subjected to enforced disappearance. He co-founded two human rights organizations, helped to uncover evidence of military responsibility for human rights violations in Aceh, Papua and Timor-Leste (formerly East Timor), and made recommendations to the government on bringing high-ranking officials to justice. In September 1999, he was appointed to the Commission of Inquiry into Human Rights Violations in East Timor (KPP-HAM).

On 7 September 2004, Munir was found dead on a ﬂight from Jakarta to the Netherlands. An autopsy carried out by the Dutch authorities showed that he had been poisoned with arsenic.

Munir had been in constant danger as a result of his human rights work. In 2002 and 2003, his office was attacked, and in August 2003, a bomb exploded outside his home in Bekasi, West Java.

Although three people have now been convicted for their involvement in Munir’s death, there are credible allegations that those responsible for his death at the highest levels have not been brought to justice. Further, President Yudhoyono has still not published a 2005 report into Munir’s killing by an independent fact-finding team, despite such a recommendation in his decree on its establishment.

The continuing lack of full accountability for Munir’s killing is a chilling reminder to human rights defenders in Indonesia of the dangers they face and the utter disregard Indonesian authorities have for their crucial work.

We, the undersigned international, regional and local civil society organizations from Cambodia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Philippines, Singapore and the United Kingdom therefore urge the President of Indonesia to ensure that the following steps are taken as a matter of priority:

Publication of the 2005 report of the fact-finding team into Munir’s killing as a key step towards establishing the truth;

A new, independent investigation is initiated by the police into the murder of Munir to ensure that all perpetrators, at all levels, are brought to justice in accordance with international human rights standards;

A review of past criminal proceedings is conducted by the Attorney General into Munir’s killing, including alleged violations of international human rights standards; in particular, investigate reports of witness intimidation and bring those suspected of committing them to justice;

Effective steps are taken to ensure that human rights violations committed against all human rights defenders are promptly, effectively and impartially investigated and that those responsible are brought to justice in fair trials; and

The passage of specific legislation aimed at providing better legal protection for human rights defenders.

ACAT (Action des Chrétiens pour l'Abolition de la Torture), France
Aceh Online, Indonesia
Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (Altsean-Burma)
Amnesty International
Article 19
Arus Pelangi, Indonesia
ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) Indonesia
Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact
Asia Monitor Resource Centre, Hong Kong
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
Asian Muslim Action Network, Indonesia
Asia Pacific Human Rights Coalition, New Zealand
Asosiasi LBH APIK, Indonesia
Badan Advokasi Rakyat (BARA) Persatuan Indonesia (Perindo)
Cambodian Center for Human Rights(CCHR), Cambodia
Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC)
Cambodian League for the Promotion & Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO)
Center for Human Rights Law Studies (HRLS) Faculty of Law, Airlangga University, Indonesia
Centre for Human Rights Studies University of Surabaya, Indonesia
Center for Human Rights Studies of Islamic University of Indonesia
Children's Human Rights Foundation (Yayasan Pemantau Hak Anak/YPHA), Indonesia
Community Legal Education Center (CLEC), Cambodia
Cross Cultural Foundation, Thailand
Dignity International
FORUM-ASIA (Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development)
Foundation Pro Papua, the Netherlands
GANDA Filipinas, Phillipines
Housing Rights Task Force (HRTF), Cambodia
Human Rights Ambassador for Salem-News.com, UK
Human Rights Foundation of Aotearoa New Zealand, New Zealand
Human Rights Working Group (HRWG) Indonesia
IMBAS, Germany
IMPARSIAL, The Indonesian Human Rights Monitor
Indonesia for Humans, Indonesia
Indonesian Forum for Budget Transparency (FITRA)
Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI)
Indonesian Planned Parenthood Association (PKBI), Indonesia
Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy (Elsam), Indonesia
Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta), Indonesia
Judicial Support Monitoring Programme (JSMP), Timor-Leste
Justice for Peace Foundation, Thailand
Kalyanamitra Foundation, Indonesia
Koalisi Perempuan Indonesia untuk Keadilan dan Demokrasi (Indonesian Women's Coalition for Justice and Democracy)
KontraS (Commission for The Disappeared and Victims of Violence), Indonesia
LBH Masyarakat (The Community Legal Aid Institute), Indonesia
LIPS (Sedane Labour Resource Centre/Lembaga Informasi Perburuhan Sedane) ,Indonesia
LRC-KJHAM (Legal Resources Center for Gender Justice and Human Rights), Indonesia
MADPET(Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture)
Mauerpark Institut, Germany
Mindanao Migrants Center for Empowering Actions, Inc. (MMCEAI), Philippines
Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defender (a joint programme of International Federation for Human Rights/FIDH and World Organization Against Torture/OMCT)
Our Voice, Indonesia
Pax Christi, New Zealand
Pax Romana-ICMICA
Peace Women Across the Globe Indonesia, Indonesia
Peoples' Empowerment Foundation (PEF), Thailand
Pergerakan Indonesia
Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran Negara (Aliran), Malaysia
Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA), Philippines
Philippine Human Rights Information Center (PHILRIGHTS), Philippines
Philippines Migrant Centre, New Zealand
Protection International
Reclasseering Indonesia
Rumpun Tjoet Nyak Dien, Indonesia
Sarawak Dayak Iban Association, (SADIA), Borneo, Malaysia
SCN - CREST, Indonesia
Sehjira Deaf Foundation, Indonesia
Solidaritas Perempuan (Women's Solidarity for Human Rights), Indonesia
South East Asian Committee for Advocacy (SEACA)
Sawit Watch, Indonesia
Serikat Jurnalis untuk Keberagaman,SEJUK (Journalist Association for Pluralism and Diversity), Indonesia
Setara Institute, Indonesia
Solidaritas Perempuan (Women's Solidarity for Human Rights). Indonesia
Solidarity for Asian Peoples' Advocacy (SAPA) Working Group on ASEAN
Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM), Malaysia
TAPOL, United Kingdom
Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP), Philippines
Tafena Tabua Society, Kupang, Indonesia
Thai Volunteer Service Foundation (TVS), Thailand
Terre des hommes Germany in Southeast Asia.
The Initiatives for International Dialog (IID)
The Asia-Pacific Solidarity Coalition (APSOC)
Think Centre, Singapore
Watch Indonesia!, Germany
Women Corp of Indonesian Moslem Student Movement (KOPRI PB PMII)
Yayasan Mandiri Kreatif Indonesia (Yamakindo), Indonesia
Yayasan Transformasi Lepra Indonesia (YTLI), Indonesia
Yayasan LINTAS NUSA Batam, Indonesia
Youth for Peace Cambodia
Youth Resource Development Program, YRDP-Cambodia