Indra Subagja, Jakarta – The public prosecutor handing the case of murdered human rights activists Munir has submitted a judicial review to the Supreme Court via the South Jakarta District Court. The Solidarity Committee for Munir (Kasum) hopes that the Supreme Court will allow the hearings to be open to the public.

“The Supreme Court appeal hearing [should] be open to the public in order to [ensure] independence and so that it is non-discriminative”, said Kasum Coordinator Choirul Anam during a press conference at the offices of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) on Friday January 23.

Anam said that he also hopes that during the Supreme Court appeal hearing the court would hear the testimonies of witnesses again and not just examine the case files.

“This is in accordance with the authority of the Supreme Court under Article 50 of Law Number 14/1985, where if it is viewed as necessary, the Supreme Court can itself here [the testimony of relevant] parties or witnesses”, he explained.

Kasum however does not plan to approaching the Supreme Court itself or send a written request on the matter. “We are only conveying an appeal through the public. If we contact [the Supreme Court] it would be tantamount to making an intervention”, he said by way of closing. (ndr/anw)

[Translated by James Balowski.]