MUNIR CASE -- GOI CONTINUES TO PRESS INVESTIGATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 001252 SIPDIS DEPT. FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, DRL, DRL/AWH NSC FOR EPHU E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/26/2018 TAGS: PGOV KJUS ID SUBJECT: MUNIR CASE -- GOI CONTINUES TO PRESS INVESTIGATION REF: A. JAKARTA 1207 ¶B. JAKARTA 279 ¶C. JAKARTA 173 ¶D. JAKARTA 112 ¶E. 07 JAKARTA 2122 AND PREVIOUS JAKARTA 00001252 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Indonesian President Yudhoyono has publicly called on the GOI's National Intelligence Agency (BIN) to cooperate fully in the investigation into the 2004 murder of human rights activist Munir Said Thalib. The President's statement comes against the backdrop of last week's dramatic arrest of the former deputy director of BIN for complicity in the murder. Police are reportedly lining up more witnesses and evidence. On June 26, Pol/C emphasized to a contact in the President's Office the positive trend-line in the case. In response, the contact promised "more progress." END SUMMARY. PRESIDENT ASKS BIN TO COOPERATE ¶2. (SBU) On June 24, President Yudhoyono publicly called on all elements of the GOI--including BIN--to work together to advance the investigation into the murder of human rights activist Munir Said Thalib. The President spoke after the June 19 arrest of retired general and former BIN Deputy Director Muchdi Purwopranjono for complicity in the murder (see ref A). ¶3. (C) In a June 26 meeting at the Presidential Palace, Pol/C noted the positive trend-line in the GOI's investigation of the case. Tri Sukma Djandam of the President's International Relations Office commented that Muchdi's arrest was "good news for accountability" and he hoped "the international community took note of it." He added--without providing further specifics--that there would be "more progress" soon. Pol/C took this as a signal that there might be more arrests. MORE ARRESTS? ¶4. (C) Per Djandam's comments, there is increasing indication that the investigation will name further BIN suspects. On June 26, Deputy Attorney General for Public Crime Affairs Abdul Hakim Ritongga told the press the Attorney General's Office (AGO) was working "to reveal" other suspects beyond Muchdi. He added that the AGO has assigned two prosecutors to this effort. After his arrest, Muchdi's lawyers told the press that if he is brought to court, then "others" should be questioned too. Observers following the case told poloff that the "others" include: former Vice BIN Chief As'ad Said Ali; BIN Deputies Wahyu Saronto and Manunggal Maladi; and, BIN Agent Ucok. ¶5. (C) In the meantime, the police continue to interrogate Muchdi. Days after his arrest, police transferred Muchdi to the headquarters of the Mobile Brigade (Brimob) in Depok, a Jakarta suburb, reportedly because the detention cells at police headquarters were full. Contacts suspect the reason for the transfer was to place Muchdi under increased security during this sensitive investigative timeframe. NEW WITNESS, NEW EVIDENCE ¶6. (C) In other Munir case-related news, police reportedly have an active-duty Kopassus member as a new witness. Called "Captain X" by rights activists following the case, the new witness reportedly has evidence of Muchdi's role in planning Munir's murder. On June 25, three human rights lawyers told poloff that former Kopassus Commander Soenarko and newly installed commander Wibowo both gave the green light to allow the testimony. ¶7. (C) Other contacts also told us that police have new JAKARTA 00001252 002.2 OF 002 evidence regarding a meeting in which senior BIN officials planned to murder Munir. BIN had outlined various scenarios for the murder, including using a sniper, a car explosive, and even "black magic," they said. According to this narrative, several attempts failed before Munir was poisoned to death en route to Amsterdam in October 2004 (ref E). (Note: Pollycarpus, a former employee of Garuda Airlines, was convicted of committing the murder and is currently in prison serving a 20-year sentence.) ¶8. (C) Rights advocates credited Police chief investigator Bambang Hendarso's professionalism and SBY's commitment to the case with the recent progress in the investigation. Close cooperation among agencies has also been crucial to current progress, they said. According to Rafendi Djamin, coordinator of the Human Rights Working Group, police and the AGO worked closely together before the Muchdi arrest to ensure they had new evidence and witnesses lined up for prompt completion of the criminal dossier. WHAT'S NEXT ¶9. (C) Per President Yudhoyono's remarks, the Indonesian government seems very strongly committed to seeing the investiation through. Munir's murder was a shocking event and most Indonesians strongly support a full investigation. The next step for lawyers monitoring the case is ensuring that legal proceedings against Muchdi continue smoothly. On the legal side, the Munir Solidarity Action Commission (Kasum) has offered to assist the AGO with their case development. In the meantime, Jakarta waits to see when the next shoe drops and whether there are perhaps more high-level arrests soon. HUME