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Indonesia: Failure to deliver full justice for the killing of human rights defender Munir

Amnesty International Public Statement - September 7, 2013

AI Index: ASA 21/032/2013

Joint statement by civil society organizations

Nine years after the killing of human rights defender Munir Said Thalib, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono must take decisive and concrete action to ensure those responsible – including those at the highest levels – are brought to justice, and that all defenders of human rights are better protected.

President Yudhoyono, who has himself described Munir's case as a "test of our history" has just one year of his presidency remaining, in which to ensure full justice and reparations are delivered. The President's failure so far to do so, at a time the protection of human rights defenders across the country remains seriously under threat, raises serious questions about his legacy.

One of Indonesia's most prominent human rights campaigners, Munir took up the cause of dozens of activists who had been subjected to enforced disappearance. He co-founded two human rights organizations, helped to uncover evidence of military responsibility for human rights violations in Aceh, Papua and Timor-Leste (formerly East Timor), and made recommendations to the government on bringing high-ranking officials to justice. In September 1999, he was appointed to the Commission of Inquiry into Human Rights Violations in East Timor (KPP-HAM).

On 7 September 2004, Munir was found dead on a ?ight from Jakarta to the Netherlands. An autopsy carried out by the Dutch authorities showed that he had been poisoned with arsenic.

Munir had been in constant danger as a result of his human rights work. In 2002 and 2003, his office was attacked, and in August 2003, a bomb exploded outside his home in Bekasi, West Java.

Although three people have now been convicted for their involvement in Munir's death, there are credible allegations that those responsible for his death at the highest levels have not been brought to justice. Further, President Yudhoyono has still not published a 2005 report into Munir's killing by an independent fact-finding team, despite such a recommendation in his decree on its establishment.

The continuing lack of full accountability for Munir's killing is a chilling reminder to human rights defenders in Indonesia of the dangers they face and the utter disregard Indonesian authorities have for their crucial work.

We, the undersigned international, regional and local civil society organizations from Cambodia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Philippines, Singapore and the United Kingdom therefore urge the President of Indonesia to ensure that the following steps are taken as a matter of priority:

Publication of the 2005 report of the fact-finding team into Munir's killing as a key step towards establishing the truth;

A new, independent investigation is initiated by the police into the murder of Munir to ensure that all perpetrators, at all levels, are brought to justice in accordance with international human rights standards;

A review of past criminal proceedings is conducted by the Attorney General into Munir's killing, including alleged violations of international human rights standards; in particular, investigate reports of witness intimidation and bring those suspected of committing them to justice;

Effective steps are taken to ensure that human rights violations committed against all human rights defenders are promptly, effectively and impartially investigated and that those responsible are brought to justice in fair trials; and

The passage of specific legislation aimed at providing better legal protection for human rights defenders.

This joint statement is endorsed by:

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