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