Erwin Daryanto, Jakarta – Indonesian’s chief of police, General Da’i Bachtiar, has said that it is reasonable to suspect that the management of Garuda airlines is involved in the murder of human rights activist Munir. Bachtiar’s comments strengthen an earlier statement by the Fact Finding Team at the State Palace.

After meeting with the President on Thursday March 3, the team said that Garuda’s directors were strongly suspected of being involved in Munir’s murder. The team said that the murder of Munir was a conspiracy.

According to Bachtiar, suspicion of the involvement of Garuda in Munir’s murder was based on the attitude of the directors and management which had been uncooperative in its dealing with the fact finding team. The directors are also suspected of concealing information about the death of the human rights activist. “So it is reasonable to suspect the party concerned was involved in the case of the death of a person”, he told journalists on Friday March 3 in Jakarta.

According to Bachtiar however, so far the investigating team from police headquarters has been unable to determine whether there is a suspect in the Munir case. “Don’t say later that the conclusions we have drawn are incomplete”, he said.

The police investigation team will continue to build the case and evaluate all witnesses based on recommendations from the fact finding team. There will be further investigation of people who are reasonably suspected of involvement in Munir’s death. “As to their role we don’t know yet”, he said.

[Translated by James Balowski.]