Jakarta – Strong public opinion could force the reopening of the Munir murder case, former Supreme Court justice Adi Andojo Soetjipto said Wednesday.
Adi Andojo said the most effective way to keep the case alive would be for the public to demand a review of the recent Supreme Court decision to quash the murder conviction of Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto. Pollycarpus, who was pilot for national carrier Garuda, was convicted by a lower court for the murder of human rights activist Munir Said Thalib.
"The Supreme Court's decision to let Pollycarpus go free is final. However, the Attorney General's Office can file for a review if there is strong public opinion that the decision has harmed the court's image," Adi said while addressing a public discussion of the Munir case in Utan Kayu, East Jakarta.
In 2005, Pollycarpus was sentenced to 14 years in prison for the poisoning death of Munir aboard a Garuda flight from Jakarta to Amsterdam via Singapore in September 2004. The Supreme Court overturned that verdict in November, but jailed Pollycarpus for two years for falsifying flight documents.
Pollycarpus was due for release in March 2007, but was freed from Cipinang Prison in East Jakarta in December last year after the government granted him a one-month Christmas remission and an additional two-month remission it said he should have received on Independence Day in August.
The decision to release Pollycarpus from jail early has drawn angry protests from many rights activists.
Suciwati, the widow of Munir, has sought explanations from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono over Pollycarpus' release, but no response has been forthcoming.
Suciwati has sought the support of the international community, including the US government, the United Nations and the European Union, in seeking justice for her husband.
The Indonesian public and the international community have voiced strong concern over the case and have pushed the government to take concrete action to resolve it.
Lukman Hakim, a member of the law and human rights commission at the House of Representatives, said that because of the strong public interest, the Munir case was no longer just a criminal matter and its resolution required the good will of the government.
He cited the political nuances of the case, including rumors and suspicions of military involvement because of Munir's past criticisms of the force.
Lukman called on former members of a government-sanctioned fact-finding team, which was set up to probe the Munir murder, to reveal their findings.
"The fact-finding team, which was established through a presidential decree, is no longer in existence as it has been dissolved. Now, as common citizens, they should be able to reveal the team's findings to the public," he said.
Lukman said he remained optimistic the government could settle the case, adding that the authorities had all the tools needed, including quality human resources.
He said the government also could capitalize on the momentum of the national security bill deliberations, which have raised concerns over the state military and security systems.
"The police can use this momentum to prove their professionalism, as well as to show the general public that they can be objective and neutral in the midst of political pressure," he said.