“Witnesses Protection Agency Must Be Formed Soon”
Thursday, 11 January, 2007 | 13:48 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Usman Hamid, Coordinator of the Commission for Missing People and Victims of Violence, has urged that the government establish a witness protection agency soon.

According to him, the setting up of such an agency institution would provide new hope for tracking down Munir's murderer.

“At the very least, it will build up witnesses' courage,” he said yesterday (01/10) in Jakarta.

Usman revealed that, so far, one of the obstacles in investigating the case of Munir's murder was that witnesses were reluctant to supply information.

They were not brave enough to provide official information as regards the plan for Munir's murder because their safety was not guaranteed.

“The fear of threats has made them remain silent,” he said.

During the investigation into Munir's case, according Usman, even a member of fact finding team who was also a police officer was not free from threats.

Witnesses also had more worries, Usman went on to say, because the official report of the fact finding team stated that State Intelligence Agency had been involved in the case.

“Therefore, it is quite natural that they have refused to speak especially as there is as yet no certain legal protection for them,” he said.

Therefore, according to Usman, a witness protection agency must soon be established.

In addition, in his opinion, Law Number 13/2006 on Witness and Victims Protection has been legalized since 11 August last year.

Emerson Yuntho, Coordinator of Legal Division at Indonesian Corruption Watch, had a similar opinion.

He has asked that the government soon follow up on the law.

“This law was legalized six months ago, but no continuation is yet to be seen,” said Emerson.

TITIS SETIANINGTYAS