Jessi Carina, Jakarta – The case of the murder of renowned human rights activist Munir Said Talib has entered its 21st year.
Munir died on September 7, 2004 while on a flight from Jakarta to Amsterdam. The investigation results showed that Munir was poisoned using arsenic on the flight. To this day however, the principle mastermind of the murder has never been tried.
The legal process ensnared former Garuda Indonesia pilot Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto, who was known as a field actor in Munir's death. Priyanto was convicted and served his sentence, but died in October 2020 due to Covid-19.
Two decades later, the public is still questioning developments in the Munir case investigation.
Suciwati's demands
The wife of the late Munir, Suciwati, continues to fight for an investigation into the murder of her husband.
During a commemoration of 21 years since Munir's death at the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) office in Jakarta on Sunday September 7, she expressed strong criticisms of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM).
According to Suciwati, since Komnas HAM formed an ad hoc investigation team more than two years ago, the case is still marking time.
"I went back to Komnas HAM [to say] that it's been more than two years but the case is still stuck I said. Because why does it need so long, that's one thing. Second, does the Komnas [HAM] no longer have any teeth, when it summons people they ignore it?", said Suciwati.
Furthermore, Suciwati questioned the effectiveness of Komnas HAM recommendations if in the end they only pile up without any follow-up by the Attorney General's Office.
"So why are you silent Komnas HAM? So I hope this time it should be a person who is familiar with Cak [Brother] Munir and who has also been with victims. Feeling it's important to show some teeth, I think", said Suciwati.
"Don't get too comfortable. Is it because of the fear of being sacked or because later so that it is okay. We need a renewal, need someone who is progressive, that's what we want today", she added.
Komnas HAM explanation
Komnas HAM Chairperson Anis Hidayah, who was present at the commemoration event at the YLBHI, explained the latest situation in the investigation of the Munir case.
Hidayah acknowledged that the investigation has encountered a number of obstacles, especially regarding the summons of witnesses.
"Regarding the obstacles that we have cited, they are for example the summoning of witnesses, because this case has been going on for quite some time, 21 years. So the parties who would be witnesses that's related to information on their whereabouts. Furthermore, their willingness to appear as witnesses is also a challenge", said Hidayah.
He said that Komnas HAM had summoned approximately 18 witnesses from various backgrounds. However, there were still other witnesses from three different categories who needed to be present to further complete the investigation.
"We have requested support from several related parties so that the witnesses we want can appear, and if for example they have changed address, on that we are also supported by the authorised parties to provide updated information regarding the whereabouts of the witnesses we will summon", said Hidayah.
According to Hidayah, the population and civil registration (Dukcapil) office has responded well to their requests.
Apart from witnesses, the investigative team is also still tracing additional documents relevant to this incident. On the other hand, further examination of a number of witnesses in several clusters will be carried out in coordination with investigators from the Attorney General's Office.
Since early 2023, Komnas HAM has indeed been conducting a pro-justice investigation into the Munir murder case. These steps include summoning witnesses, collecting documents from various agencies and civil society organisations and coordinating with law enforcement officials.
Notes
Renowned human rights defender Munir died of arsenic poisoning onboard a Garuda Indonesia flight on September 7, 2004. Although off-duty pilot Pollycarpus Priyanto was convicted of the murder in 2005, the alleged mastermind behind the assassination, former National Intelligence Agency (BIN) deputy Muchdi Purwoprandjono, was later acquitted of all charges. Also implicated in the murder but never investigated was former BIN chief AM Hendropriyono. Hendropriyono, a close ally of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Chairperson Megawati Sukarnoputri, was cited in US diplomatic cables leaked in 2011 as being involved in the planning of the murder. In 2014 Hendropriyono was appointed as an advisor to former President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and in August 2025, President Prabowo Subianto awarded him Indonesia's highest civilian honour – the Star of the Republic of Indonesia, First Class.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "21 Tahun Kematian Munir, Sejauh Mana Proses Penyelidikan Kasusnya?".]
