Detik.com
- February 16, 2009
Rizal
Maslan, Jakarta – In order to discover the truth behind the murder of human
rights activist Munir, the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) has
formed a public examination team. The team will analyse the December 31 verdict
by the South Jakarta District Court that acquitted former State Intelligence
Agency deputy chief Muchdi Purwopranjono of the murder.
“In
accordance with the function, duties and authority mandated by Law Number
39/1999 on Human Rights, we have formed a public examination team to review the
South Jakarta District Court’s verdict”, said Komnas HAM deputy chairperson M.
Ridha Saleh at his office on Jl. Latuharhari in the Menteng area of Central
Jakarta on Monday February 16.
According to
Saleh, the public examination panel of judges will be comprised of individuals
who have a high level of competence in the area of criminal law, human rights
law and criminal procedural law. The examination panel will be made up of five
people: Soetandyo Wigjosoebroto, Mudzakkir, Frans Hendra Winarta, Fajroel
Falaakh and M. Rudi Rizki.
The public
examination panel of judges is scheduled to carry out their duties between mid
February and April. Komnas HAM will then convey the results to the public and
judicial institutions. “It is hoped that the results of the public examination
can be used as a partner to the [Supreme] court [appeal] hearing (amicus
curiae) in the context of heading towards a credible judicial process”,
explained Saleh.
Komnas HAM
chairperson Ifdhal Kasim meanwhile conceded that the results of the public
examination will be limited to making recommendations and will not influence
the judicial process in the Supreme Court, bearing in mind that the Munir case
is currently at the appeals stage. Komnas HAM itself has the highest respect
for and will safeguard judicial independence.
“So the
results will not in fact influence the appeal verdict later on. It is aimed
more at providing an opinion from a third party, the aim of which is to provide
input for the Supreme Court”, he explained.
Kasim added
that the aim of the public examination is based on a desire to discover aspects
of material truth. In order to do this, the team will analyse the case starting
from the investigation process, the prosecution, the court hearings and the
South Jakarta District Court panel of judges’ interpretation of the verdict on
the Munir case.
“We will
provide all shades of colour from the perspective of human rights, whether or
not justice was fulfilled, whether or not the rights of the suspects and
victims were fulfilled. So our entire focus can be seen from the perspective of
human rights”, he added.
Whether or
not the results of the examination will later be used by other judicial
institutions or the Supreme Court, continued Saleh, rests entirely with the
judiciary itself. “We only want to examine it from the human rights
perspectives cited earlier”, he said in conclusion. (zal/ndr)
[Translated
by James Balowski.]
