Gede Suardana, Jakarta – The United Nations is being asked to support Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in efforts to solve the murder of human rights activist Munir. This support will give Yudhoyono more confidence.

This was conveyed by the coordinator of the Committee for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), Usman Hamid during break in the 14th Asia Pacific Regional Cooperation Workshop for the advancement and protection of human rights at the Ayodhya Hotel in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Tuesday July 10.

Hamid explained that it is hoped that this support will come from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, who will meet with Yudhoyono in the next few days. During the meeting it is hoped that Arbour will make a serious commitment to the Munir murder case.

“We hope that the UN will stop seeing the Munir case as a domestic issue, but as an international [one]. After returning to the UN [in New York], I hope that Louise will make an official report on the Munir case for the next hearing”, said Hamid.

Arbour also plans to meet with Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association activist Hendardi, the wife of the late Munir, Suciwati and Hamid himself. According to Hamid, the meeting will discuss the investigations into unsolved gross human rights violations in Indonesia.

“Such as the case of human right violations in East Timor, Tanjung Priok and the Trisakti tragedy”, said Hamid. (djo/nrl)

[Slightly abridged translation by James Balowski.]