Monday, August 01, 2005



Munir: Getting away with murder

Last month I blogged about the case of Munir Said Thalib, the Indonesian human rights activist who was poisoned on a flight from Jakarta to Amsterdam. Now, an airline pilot has finally been charged with his murder, and further charges are being considered against two flight attendants. However, an independent investigation last month pointed the finger squarely at Indonesia's intelligence services, and recommended that charges be laid against former Indonesian intelligence chief Abdullah Hendropriyono and his deputy Muchdi Purwopranjono for ordering Munir's death. So far, there has been no action on this front. I guess Indonesia is still a country where the government can kill its citizens with impunity and its agents can get away with murder...

Posted by Idiot/Savant at 8/01/2005 09:07:00 AM

2 comments:

This is a worthy and important post, I/S - and I have read the background to it a month or so back, which makes for pretty horrifying reading.

Incidentally, I think that the US should be sternly held accountable for its collusion with Indonesia/the Suharto junta over the past three decades, including of course, Nixn and Kissenger's visit to Suharto hours before the invasion of East Timor began. The fact that Paul Wolfowitz was ambassador during the kleptocracy of Suharto should prove beyond doubt his contempt for suffering and his diabolical unsuitability for any organisation attempting to 'relieve poverty'.

I would hope that both NZ and Australia demand answers as to how this could happen on an airline that flies to Australasian cities.

 Posted by Anonymous : 8/01/2005 12:57:00 PM

I didn't know that, Sock Thief - thanks for the post!

I remain sceptical about Wolfy, given his chumminess (can't remember source) with senior members of the Indonesian military - however, the points about the Philipines are interesting.

Thank you!

 Posted by Anonymous : 8/01/2005 02:30:00 PM

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