Nivell Rayda – An international rights group on Monday slammed Indonesia's police for botching a key human rights case and for wielding defamation charges as a political weapon against critics.

New York-based Human Rights Watch called on the police to drop criminal defamation charges against a prominent human rights activist and redirect their efforts to solving the 2004 murder of prominent activist Munir Said Thalib.

Jakarta Police began a criminal defamation investigation early this month against Usman Hamid, coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), for statements he made to the press concerning the acquittal of retired senior intelligence official Muchdi Purwopranjono.

On Dec. 31 2008, Muchdi was acquitted by the South Jakarta District Court of charges that he orchestrated the murder of Munir, who died of arsenic poisoning on Sept. 7, 2004, while flying from Jakarta to Amsterdam aboard Garuda Indonesia.

Prosecutors alleged that Muchdi had used his influence at the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) to orchestrate the murder in an attempt to avenge his ousting from the top post of the Army's Special Forces (Kopassus) in 1998, believing that Munir's criticisms over the kidnapping of students and activists by the elite unit had cost him his career.

"Five years on, the masterminds behind Munir's murder are still free, while Munir's fellow activists continue to face intimidation," said Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "The police should focus on gathering stronger evidence to bring those who planned Munir's death to justice."

Muchdi told police that during his trial, Usman allegedly shouted "Murderer!" and that after his acquittal, Usman reportedly said in a press statement: "Who murdered Munir? Muchdi."

On June 15, the Supreme Court upheld the district court's decision in Muchdi's trial.

Only three people, all from Garuda, were ever convicted for the murder. Pilot Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto was sentenced to 20 years in prison for administering the fatal does of arsenic, while a former chief executive of the airline, Indra Setiawan, and Rohainil Aini, a former Garuda secretary, both received a year in prison as accessories to the crime.

The watchdog said it believed the three only played minor roles in the murder, adding that there was plenty of evidence to support Muchdi's involvement.

"There is compelling evidence that witnesses in the Muchdi trial changed their stories or left things unsaid because they were too scared to speak out in the courtroom," Pearson said.

Separately, Usman said he would not retract his statement. "I will not back down and issue an apology for saying what I believe in," he said.