Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08JAKARTA1342
2008-07-14 07:09:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Jakarta
Cable title:
GOI BUILDS CASE AGAINST FORMER GENERAL IN SLAYING
how-toVZCZCXRO6119 OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHJA #1342 1960709 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 140709Z JUL 08 FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9512 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 4727 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 2752 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 2829 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1991 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2208 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5197 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 1074 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 1113 RUEHBAD/AMCONSUL PERTH 0945 RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 2795 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 001342
SIPDIS
DEPT. FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, DRL, DRL/AWH
NSC FOR EPHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2018
TAGS: PGOV KJUS ID
SUBJECT: GOI BUILDS CASE AGAINST FORMER GENERAL IN SLAYING
OF HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST
REF: JAKARTA 1252 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 001342
SIPDIS
DEPT. FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, DRL, DRL/AWH
NSC FOR EPHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2018
TAGS: PGOV KJUS ID
SUBJECT: GOI BUILDS CASE AGAINST FORMER GENERAL IN SLAYING
OF HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST
REF: JAKARTA 1252 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: The GOI continues to build its case against
a former general in the 2004 slaying of Munir Said Thalib, a
well-respected human rights activist. The former
general--who was an intelligence official at the time of the
murder--remains under arrest while the investigation
continues. Prosecutors hope to move to the trial stage by
September. True to its word, the Indonesian government is
working to get to the bottom of who was complicit in the
Munir murder. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) BUILDING THE CASE: The Indonesian government
continues to build its case in the Munir murder
investigation. (Note: Munir was poisoned in October 2004.
Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto, a former Garuda Airlines
employee, was convicted for the murder and is serving a
20-year sentence. The GOI is now investigating who may have
ordered the slaying. End Note.) The Head of the Indonesian
team investigating the murder told DepPol/C on July 10 that
police have very strong evidence linking Muchdi Purwopranjono
to a plot to kill Munir. (Note: Muchdi is a retired
general, Kopassus--Army special forces, and former Deputy of
the Indonesian National Intelligence Agency--BIN.)
3. (C) Continuing, Head of Criminal Investigations Division
Bambang Hendarso told us that the 30 witnesses and pieces of
material evidence provided to prosecutors will make for a
strong case without the need for a confession. Hendarso
declined to reveal the nature of the evidence. (Note:
Reftels speculate on the character of the evidence based on
non-police sources.)
4. (C) MOVING TOWARD A TRIAL: Hendarso said prosecutors are
reviewing the evidence and feel it may be possible to move
toward a trial in September. In the meantime, Muchdi remains
in jail, denying all charges. Hendarso would not comment on
whether other senior officials might later be implicated. He
repeated what he had said in earlier meetings about the
apparent motive, relating it to anger among some in the GOI
about Munir's investigation into past human rights abuses.
5. (C) Hendarso pointed out to DepPol/C that he has kept his
promise given 11 months ago to U.S. Senate Staffer Keith Luse
that the GPOI would take steps to "get whoever may have been
behind the murder."
6. (C) POSITIVE MOVEMENT: President Yudhoyono and his
administration have underlined repeatedly and in public that
progress must be made in this key case. In a July 14 meeting
with Pol/C, an Assistant to the President working in the
International Relations Office noted that the case remains a
high priority and that further arrests may be possible.
Overall, while the GOI needs to continue to press the matter,
holes in the long-time culture of impunity are already
appearing.
HUME
SIPDIS
DEPT. FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, DRL, DRL/AWH
NSC FOR EPHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2018
TAGS: PGOV KJUS ID
SUBJECT: GOI BUILDS CASE AGAINST FORMER GENERAL IN SLAYING
OF HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST
REF: JAKARTA 1252 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: The GOI continues to build its case against
a former general in the 2004 slaying of Munir Said Thalib, a
well-respected human rights activist. The former
general--who was an intelligence official at the time of the
murder--remains under arrest while the investigation
continues. Prosecutors hope to move to the trial stage by
September. True to its word, the Indonesian government is
working to get to the bottom of who was complicit in the
Munir murder. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) BUILDING THE CASE: The Indonesian government
continues to build its case in the Munir murder
investigation. (Note: Munir was poisoned in October 2004.
Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto, a former Garuda Airlines
employee, was convicted for the murder and is serving a
20-year sentence. The GOI is now investigating who may have
ordered the slaying. End Note.) The Head of the Indonesian
team investigating the murder told DepPol/C on July 10 that
police have very strong evidence linking Muchdi Purwopranjono
to a plot to kill Munir. (Note: Muchdi is a retired
general, Kopassus--Army special forces, and former Deputy of
the Indonesian National Intelligence Agency--BIN.)
3. (C) Continuing, Head of Criminal Investigations Division
Bambang Hendarso told us that the 30 witnesses and pieces of
material evidence provided to prosecutors will make for a
strong case without the need for a confession. Hendarso
declined to reveal the nature of the evidence. (Note:
Reftels speculate on the character of the evidence based on
non-police sources.)
4. (C) MOVING TOWARD A TRIAL: Hendarso said prosecutors are
reviewing the evidence and feel it may be possible to move
toward a trial in September. In the meantime, Muchdi remains
in jail, denying all charges. Hendarso would not comment on
whether other senior officials might later be implicated. He
repeated what he had said in earlier meetings about the
apparent motive, relating it to anger among some in the GOI
about Munir's investigation into past human rights abuses.
5. (C) Hendarso pointed out to DepPol/C that he has kept his
promise given 11 months ago to U.S. Senate Staffer Keith Luse
that the GPOI would take steps to "get whoever may have been
behind the murder."
6. (C) POSITIVE MOVEMENT: President Yudhoyono and his
administration have underlined repeatedly and in public that
progress must be made in this key case. In a July 14 meeting
with Pol/C, an Assistant to the President working in the
International Relations Office noted that the case remains a
high priority and that further arrests may be possible.
Overall, while the GOI needs to continue to press the matter,
holes in the long-time culture of impunity are already
appearing.
HUME