Cover up 2
Today I
am talking about the weather. At 77ºF today it's bloody freezing so I've donned a waistcoat over my T-shirt. I might have to put on socks as well. I really don't like the rainy season.
And the cover up of Munir's assassination continues with the House of Representatives only agreeing to hold
a meeting to discuss another meeting in order to set up an investigation. The House Commission III on Law, Human Rights and Security chairman Agustin Teras Narang only pledged that it would discuss the proposal in a plenary meeting.
"Without doubt we fully support the investigation into Munir's death; however a formal endorsement on the establishment of an investigating commission can only be given by a House plenary meeting," he said, concluding a meeting between the commission members and human rights activists. Munir's widow, Suciwati, also attended.
In my writing as Jakartass, I do try to keep intemperate and/or emotional language at bay. I save that for my verbal outbursts. Imagine my delight and surprise therefore at
today's editorial in the Jakarta Post. This is an honourable newspaper and what follows is an excerpt.
Munir, politics and murder
The cruelest fate has befallen the sincerest of men. He spent his life absolving the glories of our blood and state. But his dauntless effort was indemnified by a poison chalice. An unrighteous end to a noble life.
We are now indignant after his widow, Suciwati, received death threats reportedly warning her against connecting the death of husband to the military.
Suciwati has for years been the quiet heroine behind her husband. She was the sustaining light during the darkest hours of her husband's ordeals in voicing the plight of those who had been politically silenced.
Standing beside Munir, she was his silent partner enduring years of terror in quiet suffering in the profound belief in justice. She never captured headlines, neither did she ever seek to exploit her valiant contribution. Even in her mourning she has not been able to bury her husband in peace. The terror that Suciwati and Munir fought so hard against returns to haunt her.
How callous can the perpetrators be?
We can only observe in admiration her determination not to succumb to premeditated terror. Our moral support goes out to her and our commitment to help propel a thorough investigation into Munir's death is assured.
Hear, hear.
Brimob rule
Further indignation is aroused with the news that residents of Bojong near Bogor, some 60 kilometers south of Jakarta, who have been protesting against plans to open a massive dump for Jakarta's waste, were shot yesterday by members of
Brimob (the Mobile Brigade, an élite police force equivalent to London's infamous Special Patrol Group of the 70's and 80's).
National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar has today ordered an inquiry. "
There must be an investigation of our own personnel. Were conditions that bad to warrant such actions?"
This is yet another instance where the lack of a coherent dialogue, essentially in this instance about an efficient disposal system for Jakarta's non-recyclable waste, has lead to an emotional response.
I regret that it takes so long for a country to learn maturity.
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