Ayu Fitriana, Jakarta – Around 3 hundred people coordinated by the Solidarity Committee for Munir (Kasum) held an action in front of the Supreme Court building on Thursday July 16 to protest against the court’s decision to uphold the acquittal of former top spy Muchdi Purwopranjono for the 2004 assassination of rights activist Munir.

The demonstrators arrived at the Supreme Court building at 2pm riding Metromini and Mikrolet buses. A van was provided as a stage for speeches.

“Now we can see that SBY [President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono] is again the winner [of the presidential election]. We must demand fulfillment of his promises. We can see now that he has yet to uphold human rights. He promised before to resolve the Munir case, but where are the results? A big zero”, said the wife of the late Munir Suciwati in a speech.

The protesters represented a coalition of human rights victims such as the May 1998 riots in Jakarta, the 1965 mass killings, victims of the 1997-98 abduction of student activists and street traders, who shouted slogans demanding a trial for Purwopranjono and former State Intelligence Agency chief A.M. Hendropriyono.

They also brought posters with messages such as “Try Muchdi PR and Hendropriyono”. The protest action did not create traffic congestion because the demonstrators were concentrated on the side of the road. (sho/iy)

[Translated by James Balowski.]