Paras Indonesia, 12, 25 2006 @ 12:05 pm
Statement of Human Rights First on the release of Pollycarpus
Budihari Priyanto
Posted by: Enrico Aditjondro
Following the early release from prison of Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto on December
25, Human Rights First expressed outrage that no one has been held accountable for
the killing of the leading human rights activist, Munir. The human rights organization
called on President Yudhoyono to take effective action to identify and bring to justice
those responsible for the September 2004 murder. Pollycarpus was the only person
ever charged or convicted in the fatal poisoning of Munir. More than two years after the
murder, not a single person is now in prison for the crime.
Munir's wife Suciwati recently came to the United States to accept an award from
Human Rights First. She met with U.S. government and United Nations officials, who
called on the Indonesian government to bring those responsible for this crime to
justice. Human Rights First remains concerned that without political will to solve the
crime, there will be no progress in the investigation.
President Yudhoyono should demonstrate political will by releasing publicly the report
submitted to his office by an official fact-finding team, and creating a new investigatory
commission with a robust mandate. He should also order an inquiry into why the
police have been unable to investigate the murder effectively to date.
Pollycarpus' murder conviction was overturned on appeal in October, but he remained
in jail on a forgery conviction in connection with irregular documents that facilitated his
presence on the plane with Munir. His release was scheduled for March before his
sentence was shortened by three months in keeping with the Indonesian practice of
cutting sentences on national and religious holidays.
Human Rights First is a leading human rights advocacy organization based in New
York City and Washington, DC. Since 1978, we have worked in the U.S. and abroad
to create a secure and humane world -advancing justice, human dignity, and respect
for the rule of law. All of our activities are supported by private contributions. We
accept no government funds.
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