Today, the hearing of Muchdi Purwoprandjono, the former Deputy V BIN, started at 10 am with the agenda of reading indictment of the Munir’s murder at the South Jakarta District Court. Muchdi was threatened against the article 55 point 1: 2e jo article 340 of Criminal Code sentenced for life.

In the indictment mentioned that Munir is the one of prominent human rights activist who really vocal to critic policy damaged to Indonesian society. One of his activities was to resolve the case of enforced disappearance of activists in 1997 when he covered up the one of perpetrators, Muchdi Purwoprandjono as General Command of Special Armed Forces until he got suspension.  When Muchdi got position as Deputy V BIN, he abused his authority to kill the late of Munir because of his revenge. Then he pointed Pollycarpus as agent of BIN. 

Furthermore, Pollycarpus gave the letter released by BIN (Muchdi) to Garuda to be placed as Aviation Security giving legally for him to be inside of the aircraft. When Munir planned to go to study, Pollycarpus tried to monitor his activity along his departure on 6 September 2004 calling to his cell phone answered by his wife Suciwati stated that he would go on 6 September 2004.

Meanwhile, the surrounding of inside the Court was full by group of White and Red Brigade from Muchdi’s group. Outside the court, the group held demonstration with poster written “The judges do not obey with the pressure from outside”, the government and apparatus do not obey to NGOs and judge’s intervention”.

The hearing will be continued on 2 September 2008 with exception coming from Muchdi via his lawyers.

Jakarta, 21 August 2008