Detik.com
- January 8, 2009
Ari Saputra,
Jakarta – Feeling boxed into a corner by many circles, former National
Intelligence Agency (BIN) deputy chief retired Major General Muchdi
Purwopranjono ‘has poured out his heart out’ to the National Human Rights
Commission (Komnas HAM).
The deputy
chairperson of the Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) has asked Komnas
HAM for protection due to the legal uncertainty that has followed his recent
acquittal on charges of murdering renowned human rights activist Munir.
A team of
attorneys representing Purwopranjono arrived at the Komnas HAM offices on Jl.
Latuharhary No. 4B in Central Jakarta on Thursday January 7 at 1.30pm.
Purwopranjono
himself was not present on the advice of his attorney Mohammad Assegaf in order
not to give the impression of putting pressure on Komnas HAM. Also present were
lawyers Mahendradatta, Wirawan Adnan and Lutfie Hakim. They were received by
Komnas HAM deputy chairperson Rida Saleh. Purwopranjono’s attorneys also
brought a photocopy of the judges’ verdict, case documents and video recording
of the court hearings.
Mahendradatta
conveyed three requests form Purwopranjono to the commission. First, asking for
protection from Komnas HAM because of legal uncertainties since he was
acquitted.
Second, that
Komnas HAM should not make any statements in relation to the court’s verdict
because it does not have the authority to do so.
Third, that
Komnas HAM not pressure the Attorney General’s Offices to submit an appeal to
the Supreme Court. This is because based on article 244 of the Criminal
Procedural Code, an appeal cannot be made against a verdict that acquits a
defendant.
“Because of
this therefore, we are reporting to Komnas HAM because legal certainty has been
violated. The defendant has been repeatedly put under pressure by [law
enforcement] officials, the media as well as Komnas HAM that have boxed our
client into a corner stating that he is guilty even though he had not yet been
convicted by the courts”, explained Mahendradatta.
Mahendradatta
also claimed there were elements in society that emphasise with Purwopranjono.
“We challenge Kasum (the Solidarity Committee for Munir – ed) and however many
groups that want to. We’ll line up at the East Senayan parking area. [We’ll
see] who sympathises with us, and who sympathises with Kasum”, he challenged.
Saleh
responded by saying that Komnas HAM cannot comment on the substance of the
verdict acquitting Purwopranjono.
“We have
simply commented on the impact of the court’s verdict. We have asked the
Attorney General to submit an appeal to the Supreme Court for the sake of legal
certainty and the political will of President [Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono]. It
was a collective decision coming out of a Komnas meeting. So we can’t all of a
sudden just withdraw the request for the AGO to submit an appeal”, said Salah.
(aan/nrl)
Notes:
Mahendradatta
and Wirawan Adnan both have a history of defending a number of less than
reputable clients. Mahendradatta, who is a member of the Muslim Lawyers Team
(TPM), recently represented Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) members over an
attack against the National Alliance of the Freedom of Faith and Religion
(AKKBB) in which 70 activists were injured. He also represented former East
Timor militia leader Eurico Guterres during a review against his 10 year jail
sentence for which he was later acquitted by the Supreme Court. Wirawan Adnan
recently defended former Garuda Indonesia pilot Pollycarpus Priyanto in a
judicial review of his conviction for Munir’s murder. Prior to this he also
defended Amrozi, one of the three men executed last year for their role in the
2002 Bali bombings and militant Islamic cleric Abu Bakar Bashir over his
involvement bombings, for which he was subsequently jailed for 30 months. The
irony of this report of course is that Komnas HAM has frequently been the
target of protests by military-backed and right-wing organisations such as the
FPI precisely for its defense those who have been victimised by these groups.
[Translated
by James Balowski.]
