Munir Case

Government Stresses No Foreign Interference
Thursday, 02 November, 2006 | 13:34 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Following the National Police (Polri), now it is the turn of the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, the Home Affairs Minister and several members of the House of Representatives (DPR) to state their rejection of international (the United Nations) interference in the investigation into the murder of human rights activist Munir.

Juwono Sudarsono, Defense Minister, said the government via the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs has stressed that Munir case investigation must be handled by Indonesia’s own legal system without involving foreign parties.

“We pay attention to and appreciate the concern of foreign parties, including the UN, but we must carry out the sovereignty of our legal process,” said Juwono at his office, yesterday (1/11).

“This has already been outlined by the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Minister and the Home Affairs Minister.”

Involvement of foreign parties in the reinvestigation of the Munir murder case was opened after Philips Alston, a UN special reporter for extrajudicial execution, was willing to be involved in the Munir case investigation.

Alston’s willingness was conveyed when Munir’s widow, Suciwati, and the Secretary of Solidarity Action Committee for Munir, Usman Hamid, visited the UN last month.

However, Juwono said there was no need to worry about the UN special reporter.

This was because international law states that law enforcement always prioritizes the concerned state’s apparatus to carry it out.

“But if it fails or is negligent in doing so, then international parties can interfere,” said Juwono.

Dimas Adityo, Imron Rosyid and Dian Yuliastuti