Rabby Pramudatama, Jakarta – In advance of the birthday of Munir Said Thalib, his family has launched a campaign to push the government to resolve the murder of the slain human rights activist eight years ago.
Munir's widow, Suciwati, started the campaign from Munir's hometown of Malang, East Java, on Sunday, calling on the public to sign a petition asking President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to bring Munir's killers to justice.
"Pak President, it's nearly the end of your second term and we are still patiently waiting for the realization of your promises," Suciwati said in her petition, which was made available to The Jakarta Post on Sunday.
"Do you still remember your statements early in your term that solving Munir's murder would be a 'test of our history'? You have made a promise to this country," she said.
Munir's son Soultan Alief Allende joined the call while praying at his father's grave in Sisir cemetery in Batu, East Java. "Dear God, please give direction to Abah Munir's killers so that they admit their actions," Soultan said.
Members of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) have been implicated in the murder of Munir by arsenic poisoning on board a Garuda Indonesia plane flying from Jakarta to Amsterdam on Sept. 7, 2004.
Usman Hamid, a friend of Munir who is coordinating Suciwati's online campaign, said that activists from the Committee of Action and Solidarity for Munir (Kasum) wanted to collect new evidence to prove that officials from the BIN were involved in Munir's death.
"We continue to ask BIN to submit written documents as evidence that can prove that Muchdi was assigned to Malaysia," he said, referring to Muchdi PR, the then BIN deputy chief who was eventually acquitted of charges that he had masterminded Munir's murder.
Muchdi said that he was in Malaysia when Munir was killed. The activists want BIN to provide documentation of Muchdi's whereabouts at the time to uphold or refute his alibi.
Usman said that Kasum activists have also urged the President to order the National Police to release a recording of a conversation between Muchdi and former Garuda Indonesia pilot Polycarpus Budihari Prijanto.
Polycarpus has been sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment for his role in Munir's death, although he has appealed the verdict. Who ordered the assassination of Munir has never been established by the law enforcement agencies.
Meanwhile, several witnesses in the case have died in unusual circumstances. In May, one witness – Raymon "Ongen" Latuihamallo – died of a heart attack after having no previous history of such ailments.
Kasum said that Ongen's death was the latest in a series of suspicious deaths surrounding those implicated or asked to testify about Munir's killing, including Bijah Subiyakto, another deputy director of the BIN.
Budi Santoso, another witness who might be able to provide more information on BIN officials involved in Munir's murder, has apparently vanished.
To mark the birthday of Munir on Dec. 8, activists have prepared a memorial in the city square in Batu, with the participation from poet Goenawan Mohamad and actor Butet Kertaredjasa.