Jakarta – From a soto (traditional soup) vendor to a lawyer, people from different walks of life have remembered the late human rights activist Munir through the enduring medium of music.
Album untuk Munir (Album for Munir) contains 10 compositions, which were selected in a song competition held by the Solidarity Action Committee for Munir in cooperation with radio news channel 68H (KBR68H) and Jakarta's Green Radio 89.2 FM between October 2007 and January 2008.
The album was launched Friday, although the songs have been aired since the middle of the month.
The album would help remind the public of the incomplete investigation into Munir's murder, head of promotions at KBR68H Eko Sulistyanto said.
The rights campaigner died from poisoning aboard a Garuda flight from Jakarta to the Netherlands in September 2004. A Garuda pilot was convicted of the assassination, but a government-sanctioned fact-finding team found indications that state intelligence officials were involved in the case.
"The album is a good way for the public to get to know Munir better," Edi said.
Of the 10 songs, "Pahlawan Sejati" (True Hero) by Doddy B. Sujatmiko, "Untukmu" (For You) by Nur Iman and "Selamat Jalan Pahlawan Hak Asasi Manusia" (So Long Human Rights Hero) by Neps Band were voted the favorite tracks by KBR68H listeners. The songwriters of those tracks received Rp 10 million (US$1,075), Rp 5 million and Rp 3 million, respectively.
Doddy said he dedicated his song to all true heroes in the country. "The song is not just for Munir, but also for those true heroes out there who fight for other people's rights but are treated unfairly," said Doddy, 27, an amateur musician and a Yogyakarta civil servant, who said he composed his song in only one day.
He admitted to not having known Munir personally, but hailed his commitment to human rights, justice and truth. "Pak Munir had the courage to defend human rights. That is exactly what I wanted to do through my song: to spread Munir's fighting spirit," Doddy said.
Munir's widow Suciwati expressed her gratitude at the album launch. "Music is a great way to influence people. Hopefully, the album can remind people about what happened to Munir," she said.
Other tracks include "Cahaya" (Light) by Jakarta Legal Aid Institute chairwoman Rafinawati and "Masihkah Kita Takut" (Are We Still Afraid) by soto vendor Amir Sadewo.
About 10,000 copies of the album will be distributed nationwide, at a retail price of Rp 40,000. (nkn)