For Suciwati, Soultan Alif Allende and Diva Suukyi Larasati, the widow and children of the late Munir Said Thalib, today (Thursday) is a time of sorrow and remembrance. As it should be for all Indonesians, who owe Munir so much for his tireless struggle in the name of human rights.

On Sept. 7, 2004, people who could no longer tolerate Munir's courageous efforts to secure justice for the victims of rights abuses poisoned him aboard a Garuda flight from Jakarta to Amsterdam, where he was traveling to continue his studies at Utrecht University.

An autopsy performed at the Dutch Forensic Institute found that Munir died from arsenic poisoning.

There has been a lot of speculation that Munir was murdered by people in positions of power, or formerly in power, angry at his work to find those responsible for the abductions, killings and torture of Indonesian citizens.

These people who think they are above the law (sadly it seems they are, having remained untouched by the authorities) assassinated Munir just 13 days before voters directly elected their new president.

About two months later, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, in an emotional meeting with Suciwati, promised her it was only a matter of time before those responsible for her husband's death were brought to justice. He was firm in his promise and an investigative team was set up.

The result? The goddess of justice apparently was only able to ensnare Garuda pilot Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto. In December last year, the Central Jakarta District Court sentenced him to 14 years in jail for his role in the murder. Very few people believe that Pollycarpus acted alone. This was also the conclusion of a government-sanctioned fact-finding in its report.

For the President, the Munir case apparently is just one of thousands of problems and state duties with which he must cope. Which may explain the seeming lack of urgency of bringing to justice those involved in the murder. There has also been speculation that Yudhoyono's government could be destabilized by those who insisted Munir had to die, and that he has been pressured to drop the matter.

However, on the second anniversary of Munir's death it is important to remember that his killing hurt not only his family and friends, but the entire nation. This was a premeditated murder perpetrated by criminals who want to keep the nation ignorant of their past brutalities. It is our hope the President will keep his promise and do everything necessary to find those responsible for Munir's death.

Today we remember Munir and call on our leaders to look into their consciences and uphold justice. How long must we wait?