Anwar Khumaini, Jakarta – Exactly three years since Munir’s death, one thousand people from the Solidarity Alliance for Munir and Democracy (Asumsi) gathered at the Proclamation Monument on Jl. Proklamasi in Central Jakarta on Friday September 7.

From there they will march to the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) offices on Jl. Seno II/BI in the East Pejaten area of South Jakarta to hold another action.

During the protest they called on BIN to take responsibility for Munir’s murder. They also brought 10 wreaths of flowers representing their sorrow over the death of Munir, human rights activists that died in 1998 and other activists that have been disappeared.

The protesters had been arriving in waves since 1pm in private cars, on public transport, motorcycles and Metro Mini busses. They wore read and black T-shirts with a picture of Munir and the writing “Munir was killed because he was right”.

In speeches in front of the Proclamation Monument the demonstrators urged President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to use his position to “open up” institutions under his authority.

They also called on the head of BIN, as a state institution to be transparent and cooperate with law enforcement agencies to uncover the thorn in the side of the agency that has damaged BIN’s image in the eyes of the public.

At 1.30pm, the protesters set off for the BIN offices watched over by 10 police officers. (ziz/nrl)

[Translated by James Balowski.]