Jakarta (AsiaNews) – A new probe into the death of Munir Said Thalib, a human rights activist who died on a Garuda flight in 2004, might be launched now that suspicions have fallen on officials from Indonesia’s intelligence agency, Badan Intelligent Negara (BIN).
The country’s Attorney General Office has officially requested the case be re-opened in light of new evidence and witnesses, including Indra Setiawan, a former president of the Garuda airline company, and Raden Muhammad Patma Anwar, alias Ucok, a former secret agent.
Munir was a controversial figure for his harsh criticism of Indonesian involvement in East Timor when he was poisoned on September 7, 2004, on a flight to the Netherlands. Traces of arsenic were found in his body and in a glass of orange juice he drank on the plane.
At the end of 2005, pilot Pollycarpus Priyanto, who was on board of the plane but non in service, was handed down a 14-year sentence for premeditated murder. Last year however the Supreme Court acquitted him of all charges and he was released.
The new evidence that has come out consists of a taped conversation, purportedly between Pollycarpus and Indra. The latter is heard expressing concern for a letter that BIN Deputy Chief M. As’ad sent him asking him to transfer the pilot to Garuda’s internal security.
A copy of the letter was also sent to the Ministry of State Enterprises, but Pollycarpus is heard telling Indra that the letter had been made to “disappear” and assured him that “everyone is a friend”.
BIN Chief Syamsir Siregar rejected claims that any of his subordinates were involved in the Munir murder case.
“Let the trial go on and find the real murderer,” he said.