If BIN officers are involved in Munir case action will be taken: Siregar

Detik.com – March 16, 2005
National Intelligence Agency chief Syamsir Siregar (Antara)
National Intelligence Agency chief Syamsir Siregar (Antara)

Astrid Felicia Lim, Jakarta – The Fact Finding Team in the case of Munir which was formed by national police headquarters has said that two perspective suspects in the murder are officers of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN). BIN chief Syamsir Siregar says that if there is evidence that his people are involved legal action will be taken against them.

“We’re not going to talk about indications, but evidence. However if supposing there is [BIN officers] involved, yes, we will take legal action”, said Siregar when stopped by journalists following a closed working meeting with the People’s Representative Assembly (DPR) Commission I in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday March 16.

Siregar however chose to deny [the allegations saying] that his agency is not involved in the case. “I have been quite extensively involved in uncovering the [truth behind the] Munir case, both within and outside of BIN. At this time there is still no evidence of the involvement of BIN or a member of BIN in this case”, he explained hurrying towards his official car.

Siregar admitted that he has already met with the DPR investigation team and the Fact Finding Team and so far there is no evidence leading to BIN.

When asked again about indications that two members of BIN are involved as has been announced by the Fact Finding Team, Siregar declined to comment at length. “Don’t ask me, ask the person who said it. But there has never been anyone from the police who has spoken about it”, said Siregar.

As has been reported, Usman Hamid, a member of the Munir case Fact Finding Team has said that two BIN officers are potential suspects in the case. However the matter still requires further verification. The other potential suspects are four Garuda airline employees including Garuda pilot Pollycarpus.

Munir died on a Garuda flight on September 7 2004. At that time BIN was still headed by A.M. Hendropriyono. Siregar only took on the post in December 2004 along with the Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s election as the president of Indonesia. (nrl)

[Translated by James Balowski.]