[ETAN-key] Prospects for Munir case under new police chief and new attorney general

[John M Miller]

Statement by KASUM (Komisi Aksi Solidaritas Untuk Munir)

Friday, 8 October 2010

Efforts to solve the Munir case face yet more difficulties and 
complications following the recent nominations for the new national 
police chief and the new attorney general, neither of whom has a good 
human rights record.

Moves within the attorney-general's office to reject the new man who 
comes from outside the AGO, suggest that it will be difficult for the 
legal process in the Munir case to proceed. This is apparent from the 
reluctance of officials at the AG's office to proceed with the case 
even though the new attorney general  stated publicly that he intends 
to proceed with the case.

As regards the new chief of police, the new man, Timur Pradopo, was 
the one and only candidate and he does not have a good reputation 
regarding human rights. In fact he is regarded as being one of those 
who was responsible for the 1998 cases [this refers to failure to 
solve the cases of many activists who disappeared shortly before the 
political demise of Suharto].

The prospects for solving the Munir case depend on the role of the 
police, in particular because of the need to repeat the interrogation 
of Muchdi PR, in order to gather new facts (mencari novum) as well as 
interrogating other leading figures in the case whose names were 
mentioned in earlier trials when the Pollycarpus and Muchdi cases 
were examined.

In view of the the latter two problems, KASUM believes that the Munir 
case will confront more serious obstacles which will also make it 
difficult for the President to keep his promise to solve the Munir 
case, unless the President was simply making promises, while these 
two nominations are part and parcel of efforts to undermine the Munir case.

KASUM therefore demands:

1. That the President keep his promise to resolve the Munir case by 
making the resolution of this case an indicator of the achievements 
of the new national police chief and the new attorney general.

2. That the President reinforces the commitments of the new police 
chief and the new attorney general to resolve the Munir case.

3. That Parliament (DPR) should stipulate that resolution of the 
Munir case shall be taken as the indicator of the success of the new 
police chief and the new attorney general, by demanding to know their 
respective scenarios for the resolution of the Munir case, in 
particular following the acquittal of Muchdi and the matter of the PK (?).

4.If the nominee for the new police chief is unable to give such a 
commitment and to explain the concrete actions to be taken to resolve 
the Munir case, KASUM demands that the nomination of Timur Pradopo 
for appointment as chief of police should be rejected.

Translated by TAPOL