The Solidarity Action Committee for Munir (KASUM) has submitted an open formal notice (somasi) with the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) regarding the undue delay in the pro-justitia investigation into alleged gross human rights violations concerning the murder of Munir Said Thalib.
The open notice was submitted without being formally received by any Komnas HAM commissioners, as none of them met with the KASUM representatives.
The somasi was submitted bearing in mind that Komnas HAM has failed to conclude the pro-justitia investigation into the Munir murder case. Counting from the establishment of the Ad Hoc Team on Human Rights Violations in 2022, four years have passed without any clarity. If calculated from the time civil society submitted a legal opinion with Komnas HAM it is even longer: six years, dating back to the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic.
Four years let alone six is an very long time for the victim's family and the public to wait for an investigation process intended to determine whether or not a gross human rights violation occurred. Furthermore, Komnas HAM did not extend the ad hoc team's mandate beyond December 31, 2024, and to date, there has been no progress in the pro-justitia investigation.
The murder of human rights activist Munir is no ordinary case, it involved state actors such as the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) and Garuda Indonesia Airlines and is rife with conspiracy. The criminal nature of this case is structural. Bearing mind the seriousness of silencing an activist like Munir, the state has failed to promptly resolve the matter and hold those responsible accountable, and instead the case has been allowed to drag on indefinitely.
This murder case can be classified not merely as an ordinary crime, but as an extraordinary crime or even as one of the most serious crimes, such as a crime against humanity. High-ranking intelligence officials misused not only the intelligence agency but also the state-owned airline, thus it becomes increasingly clear that the death of Munir constituted a gross violation of human rights.
Resolving the Munir case should not stop at simply identifying those responsible for his murder. More importantly, the resolution of this case serves as a test of the state's commitment to protecting human rights defenders and ensuring that acts of violence against them do not go unpunished.
If the state succeeds in resolving the Munir case in a transparent, independent and just manner, it could set a vital precedent and serve as a momentum to affirm that human rights defenders are entitled to protection and that any attacks against them must be seriously investigated.
Conversely, if the Munir case is allowed to drag on indefinitely without clarity or accountability as is currently the case, the state through Komnas HAM is in fact sending a message that a human rights defender can be arbitrarily killed while the perpetrators and those responsible continue to enjoy impunity. Therefore, the stagnation of the Munir case reflects a broader threat to human rights defenders and the overall enforcement of human rights, rather than merely an issue regarding the handling of a single case.
In the Munir case, Komnas HAM is obligated to conclude its investigation in accordance with the authority granted by Law Number 26/2000 on Human Rights Courts and to submit the findings to the Attorney General in accordance with statutory regulations. Furthermore, Law Number 39/1999 on Human Rights and the Human Rights Court Law mandate that Komnas HAM and the Attorney General must act with integrity and propriety, rather than merely stalling for time to defuse political pressure.
A protracted investigation constitutes undue delay. Under international law, specifically the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), states are required to conduct thorough and effective investigations into serious human rights violations, particularly where there are allegations of impunity or a miscarriage of justice.
The principle of the right to truth, which is reinforced by the UN Human Rights Committee and the UN Human Rights Council, obliges states to ensure that victims and the public are informed of the truth regarding gross human rights violations, including the identities of those responsible. Given these provisions, Komnas HAM has a duty to bring the case to a conclusion without undue delay.
Komnas HAM must also improve its public communication style, which currently appears bossy, opaque and unaccountable. Failure to do so makes it difficult to expect any internal changes within Komnas HAM that would benefit the public.
Jakarta, September 7, 2026
With respect,
Solidarity Action Committee for Munir (KASUM)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "KASUM: 22 Tahun Kasus Munir, Publik Ajukan Somasi Terbuka terhadap Komnas HAM atas Penundaan Tak Patut (Undue Delay) Penyelidikan Pro Yustisia Kasus Pembunuhan Munir".]
