Arin Widiyanti, Jakarta – The executive director of Indonesian Human Rights Watch (Imparsial), Rachlan Nashidik, says that the person or persons threatening Munir’s family want to send a message that it was the TNI (armed forces) who killed the human rights activist. Imparsial does not want to be provoked by the perpetrator into joining in with accusing the TNI.

“The messenger or sender of the threatening mail is actually trying get us to speculate about who the party is that is responsible for Munir’s murder. They want us to think that Munir’s murderer is the TNI”, Nashidik told journalists at the Imparsial offices on Jalan Diponegoro in Jakarta on Monday November 21.

“We are not interested in being provoked into indulging in such speculation. We would rather trust that those responsible [for Munir’s murder] be uncovered though a serious investigation conducted by the police”, asserted Nashidik.

Impartial was responding to a threatening package which was received by Munir’s family on Saturday November 20. The package containing the rotting carcass of a chicken which was sent to the Munir residence on Jalan Cendana in the Jaka Permai housing complex in Bekasi West Java.

The package was accompanied by a threatening note which read “Beware, don’t connect the TNI in Munir’s death. Want to end up like this”.

According to Nashidik, this is the first time Munir’s family has received threats since he died. Nashidik admitted he does not know who the perpetrator is. “We don’t know who is behind the threats”, he said.

The case has already been reported to the police by Munir’s family. Immediately upon receiving the package Munir’s widow, Suciwati, contacted the head of the postal division of police headquarters, Suyitno Landung.

Imparsial went on to call on police to be more serious in providing protection to Munir’s family. “We leave it up to the police to guard Munir’s family. Don’t let this kind of thing happened again”, said Nashidik. (iy)

[Translated by James Balowski.]