Ismoko Widyaya, Jakarta – After demonstrating at the offices of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN), around 200 people from the Solidarity Alliance for Munir and Democracy (Aliansi Solidaritas Untuk Munir dan Demokrasi, Asumsi) moved on and ‘assailed’ the offices of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the State Palace on Jalan Medan Merdeka Utara in Central Jakarta on Wednesday September 7.

As well as commemorating one year since the death of the human rights activist, they were also demanding that the government uncover the real mastermind behind the murder.

During the action, they brought two ‘glasses of juice’. The glasses were large plastic drums. Written on the drums was ‘BIN’ orange juice and ‘Garuda’ orange juice. They were apparently alluding to the two institutions because according to the prosecution, the arsenic that killed Munir was placed in an orange juice drink that was served by a Garuda flight attendant during a flight to Singapore on September 6 2004.

They also brought 14 wreaths of flowers including four large ones which had the writing “1 year since Munir’s death who is the mastermind of your murderer, infight!” and “Munir, an inspiration for solidarity and the struggle for humanity”. They also carried banners including one that read in English “Please fasten your seatbelt you will die soon”.

Although they arrived in three large busses, four Metro Minis, several private vehicles and scores of motorbikes, the action did not block traffic on the road in front of the State Palace. Around 50 security personnel from Gambir sectoral police and the Central Jakarta district police guarded the demonstration tightly using a police line.

During a break in the action, the wife of the late Munir, Suciwati, said that with the contact between Pollycarpus and members of BIN as detailed by investigators, this should have already clarified who the mastermind of the murder is. “Pollycarpus was just the executor”, she asserted.

Suciwati also expressed regret because many complaints have made against the Munir investigation team formed by police headquarters saying that the investigating team does not appear to be solving the death of her husband. “This means the investigation has gone back to square one, now investigators are no longer concerned with the Munir case, so they are working individually”, bemoaned the mother of two.

Like Suciwati, the coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), Usman Hamid, said that today is the commemoration of Munir’s death that was triggered by a cowardly bandit who has not taken responsibility. “Munir may die, but the democracy built by Munir cannot die”, he asserted. (ary)

[Translated by James Balowski.]