MUNIR MURDER -- POLICE CONTINUE INVESTIGATION OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 003117 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, DRL/AWH, INR/EAP NSC FOR EPHU E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/2017 TAGS: PGOV PHUM KJUS ID SUBJECT: MUNIR MURDER -- POLICE CONTINUE INVESTIGATION OF INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REF: A. JAKARTA 3001 ¶B. JAKARTA 2869 ¶C. JAKARTA 2408 ¶D. 2006 JAKARTA 1223 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak, reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The Indonesian Intelligence Agency (BIN) for the first time has publicly acknowledged that it is being investigated by police for the 2004 murder of well-known human rights activist Munir Thalib. Meanwhile, trials for two suspects continue with witnesses revealing likely intelligence agency involvement. In other news, the Supreme Court will likely soon announce whether or not it will grant a review of its controversial 2006 acquittal of the key murder suspect. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) BIN INVESTIGATED: Progress toward accountability continues to be made in the Munir case. Chief of BIN Sjamsir Siregar for the first time has publicly acknowledged that BIN Deputy Chief As'ad Said Alim is being investigated by police for the 2004 Munir murder (see reftels). The Chief of BIN did not complain about the investigation in any manner. BIN's public acknowledgment of the police investigation is a significant step in the ongoing effort to hold Indonesian security forces or security-related agencies accountable for past human rights violations. ¶3. (SBU) TRIALS CONTINUE: Trials of two Munir case suspects--former Garuda Airlines chief Indra Setiawan and Operational Support Officer Rohainil Aini--continue with new revelations. In the Setiawan trial, a key witness described the work of Pollycarpus Priyanto--the off-duty Garuda Airlines pilot acquitted of Munir's murder in a controversial ruling (ref D)--as "intelligence work" during a November 7 hearing. Pollycarpus was called to testify but did not appear "due to illness." He is scheduled to appear at the next hearing. ¶4. (C) The trials are producing evidence that Pollycarpus had no work-related reason to be on a Garuda flight to Singapore. (Note: Pollycarpus allegedly poisoned Munir in a coffee shop in Changi airport while in transit; Munir succumbed on a flight to the Netherlands.) This evidence tends to indicate that Pollycarpus may have been on board the Jakarta-Singapore flight for some other reason and apparently had been placed there by BIN with the acquiescence of Garuda officials. ¶5. (C) SUPREME COURT TO REVIEW?: A key aspect of the case involves the Supreme Court. In a November 7 meeting with poloff, Hamid--a lawyer working with Munir widow Suciwati--said the Supreme Court has requested a meeting with the two regarding the Court's imminent decision on whether to review the controversial 2006 acquittal of Pollycarpus. Hamid, Suciwati, and other human rights activists from the Munir Solidarity Action Committee (KASUM) had requested that the Supreme Court review of Pollycarpus's case take place in open court. The Supreme Court rejected this request, but, according to Hamid, promised a private explanation of how the court plans to proceed. The human rights community continues to demand that the Court reinstate Pollycarpus' conviction. HUME