The Jakarta Post, 10/11/2006 6:39:50 PM
U.S. hopes Indonesia will prosecute killers of Munir
JAKARTA (AP): Indonesia should bring to justice the killers of its most prominent
human rights activist after the acquittal by the Supreme Court last week of the only
suspect in the case, the U.S. Embassy said Wednesday.
U.S. Ambassador B. Lynn Pascoe conveyed that message to Suciwati, the widow of
slain activist Munir Thalib, in meetings Wednesday.
Munir, a human rights lawyer who often received death threats linked to his work
exposing abuses at the hands of Indonesia's security forces, died of arsenic poisoning
on a flight in September 2004 from Jakarta to Amsterdam.
"The United States regrets that there is currently no one who has been held
accountable for that crime," the embassy said in a statement. Washington will
"encourage Indonesia to vigorously pursue justice for the murder of Munir."
The statement came as Suciwati, who blames militaryintelligence agents for the
murder and is suing the state for damages, prepares for a trip to the United States
later this week where she will address the United Nation's Human Rights
Commission.
On Oct. 4 the Supreme Court acquitted an off-duty pilot with the Garuda national
carrier, saying there was insufficient evidence to prove he administered poison to
Munir's food. (**)
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