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Amnesty calls for new probe into death of Indonesian activist

by Thin Lei Win | @thinink | Thomson Reuters Foundation
Tuesday, 6 September 2011 16:31 GMT

Amnesty says it continues to receive credible allegations of rights abuses against Indonesia human rights defenders

BANGKOK (TrustLaw) – The day before the seventh anniversary of Munir Thalib's death, Amnesty International has urged the Indonesian Attorney General to start a new investigation into the rights activist’s murder, saying the mystery surrounding his death creates fear among the country’s activists.

In a letter signed by 16 country directors of the human rights group, Amnesty urged Attorney General Basrief Arief to open an independent investigation into the death and urged for a review of related past criminal proceedings.   

"The continuing lack of accountability for Munir’s killing provides a chilling reminder to human rights defenders in Indonesia that their work remains under threat,” Amnesty said on Tuesday in the letter.

“… impunity persists for those who are responsible for past human rights violations, including torture, unlawful killing, and enforced disappearances of human rights defenders," the letter added. 

Amnesty International said it continues to receive credible allegations of human rights abuses against human rights defenders in Indonesia.

Munir, a well-known human rights campaigner who uncovered evidence of human rights violations by the Indonesian military, reportedly died under mysterious circumstances while on a flight to Amsterdam on Sep. 7, 2004.

It turned out he died from arsenic poisoning in a case that implicated state-owned carrier Garuda and Indonesia’s powerful military and intelligence agency.

Off-duty pilot Pollycarpus Priyanto was accused of killing Munir, but many are convinced Priyanto was more of a foot-soldier than the mastermind.

The Supreme Court overturned the original guilty verdict in 2006 but in 2008 overturned it again, sentencing Priyanto to 20 years. 

However, Muchdi Purwoprandjono, a former intelligence chief accused of involvement, was acquitted in December 2008 of soliciting and assisting in the killing of Munir. Activists said the trial did not meet international standards of fairness, after key prosecution witnesses retracted their sworn testimonies.

Munir's wife, Suchiwati, is still fighting for the truth about what happened to her husband.

(Editing by Rebekah Curtis)

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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