Jakarta – Room to maneuver by the former director of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) Hendropriyono is shrinking after BIN formally wrote to him telling him to fulfil the summons by the Fact Finding Team (TPF) investigating the death of human rights activist Munir. This means that it is now up to Hendropriyono as an individual to determine whether or not to fulfil the summons.

This was revealed by BIN director Syamsir Siregar following a working meeting with the People’s Representative Assembly Commission I, which took place on Wednesday June 15. “We have recommended both verbally as well as in writing that Mr. Hendro and Mr. Muchdi1 can meet with and be asked [to provide] information to the TPF”, said Siregar answering questions from the press.

Nevertheless, because this is a question of personal rights, Siregar is also leaving it up to Hendropriyono to decide if he will attend or not. On Thursday the TPF plans to summons Hendropriyono for the third time. Hendropriyono failed to respond to the first and second summonses.

With regard to their own efforts to solve Munir’s murder, Siregar said that BIN had already conducted an internal review and investigation. “Around six BIN personnel have already been summoned [for questioning]” he said. Siregar declined to name the individuals but said Hendropriyono and Muchdi are not among the six because they are no longer considered to be part of BIN.

Siregar said that BIN has yet to be able to determine whether Munir was murdered in the manner suggested by the TPF2. “In terms of the legal evidence so far, BIN doesn’t know yet. But BIN is also being proactive in solving the case”, he asserted.

At a press conference yesterday meanwhile, Hendropriyono said he doesn’t have any information about Munir’s murder. He also repudiated the view that he knew exactly what was being done at the time by hundreds of thousands of his subordinates, agents at BIN, when he still held the position of BIN director because what is termed a system of compartmentalised operates in the intelligence community.

With regard to the TPF’s summonses, he believes that the TPF has misused its powers, which were mandated by the president through Presidential Decree Number 111/2004. Hendropriyono said the TPF couldn’t just summons people to provide information. The TPF he said must work in accordance with his schedule of activities and ask him first when he want’s to meet with them.

With regard to Hendropriyono’s continued refusal to meet with the TPF after being summoned twice, TPF chairperson Police Brigadier General Marsudhi Hanafi said that the matter is up to the person concerned. The TPF he said has fulfilled Hendropriyono’s wish that his questioning conforms to the protocol of cooperation between the TPF and BIN.

“Yeah [he is just] hurting himself by not responding to our invitation. What ever our findings are we will of course hand them over to the president. Our invitation is in fact an opportunity for him (Hendropriyono) to provide a clarification”, said Hanafi.

TPF deputy chairperson Asmara Nababan says that the TPF has rejected Hendropriyono’s invitation to be questioned at his home3. (WIN/SUT/DWA)

Notes:

1. Major General Muchdi Purwopranjono was replaced as the deputy director of BIN in early August. He is also the former head of the Army Special Forces, Kopassus, a post he was removed from following an investigation into the 1998 kidnapping and torture of pro-democracy activists, 13 of whom are still missing believed dead.

2. On June 14 the TPF revealed that they had found documents detailing four plots to murder Munir. In the first plot, Munir was to be killed by black magic. In the second, he would be killed in a car accident. In the third Munir was to be poisoned at his office. The fourth was to murder him aboard an aircraft.

3. On June 15 Hendropriyono invited the TPF to meet him at his office. When they failed to turn up he used the opportunity to hold a press conference to explain his position with regard to the TPF, his views on Munir’s murder and the involvement of BIN in the case.

[Translated by James Balowski.]