Irony Munir Garuda’s choice for the Netherlands … Page all

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – The death of the Human Rights fighter (HAM), Munir Said Talib, has entered the sixteenth period just on Monday (7/9/2020).

Munir was pronounced dead on a flight to Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on the morning of September 7, 2004.

The man generally called Cak Munir died on his way to continue his studies in the Land of Windmills. He died on a Garuda Indonesia plane with flight number GA-974 to Jakarta-Amsterdam.

Also read: After arsenic compounds infected the body, Cak Munir was killed 16 years ago …

Several years after Munir’s death, a series of memories are still stored in the minds of his family, friends and those closest to him.

Of a series of memories, Munir’s idealism is one of the most memorable.

This idealism shows not only when it comes to defending human rights in Indonesia, but also in simple moments of life.

This idealism also led the deceased to choose Garuda Indonesia as the airline that flew him to the Netherlands.

The man who was born in Batu, Malang, East Java, had such mature reasons as an activist when he chose this state airline.

Also read: Revealing the case of Munir’s death, which became a historical proof …

Although in reality, the founder of Imparsial and activist Kontras could not have used a Garuda plane.

However, Suciwati’s husband argued that with Garuda’s plane, his trip would indirectly contribute to the country.

“Because it will provide foreign exchange for the country,” argued Munir, as stated by Imparsial staff, Irma, in the documentary Left Green Right Red (2009) produced by WatchDoc.

Former Munir secretary Nunung revealed that Munir’s decision to choose Garuda was not just the result of idealism.

However, Munir felt that he would feel more comfortable using the plane.

“He said it was safer to use a Garuda plane,” Munir’s former secretary Nunung said in the film.

However, no one thought that idealism and a sense of security led him to the grave.

Munir was poisoned and pronounced dead a few hours before the plane arrived in Amsterdam. His idealism in choosing Garuda planes turned into an irony at the end of his life.

Also read: Munir murder case threatened to close due to expiration

An autopsy on Munir’s body showed traces of arsenic on his body.

Multiple allegations say Munir was poisoned on the Jakarta-Singapore trip, or even while in Singapore.

According to Kompas Daily, on September 8, 2004, Munir was killed on a Garuda Indonesia flight GA-974 from Jakarta to Amsterdam via Singapore, or about two hours before the plane landed at Schipol Airport, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, at 8:10 am local time.

The GA-974 aircraft departed Jakarta on Monday, September 6, 2004 at 9:55 p.m. and then arrived in Singapore at 12:40 p.m. local time on Tuesday. After that, the plane continued its journey to Amsterdam at 01.50.

Also read: 16 years after Munir’s murder case, Jokowi’s promise is fulfilled again

However, three hours after the plane took off from Changi Airport, a high-ranking administrator named Najib informed the Pantun Matondang pilot that Munir, who was sitting in seat number 40G, was ill.

There was a doctor sitting in seat number 1J who was on the trip and he helped him.

However, Munir’s life could not be avoided when, two hours earlier, the plane was about to land at Schipol Airport, Amsterdam.

Also read: Komnas HAM asks for public support so that Munir’s case is a serious human rights violation

On November 12, 2004, the Dutch police announced the results of an autopsy that found arsenic on Munir’s body.

This finding was later announced by the Indonesian police in Jakarta.

The then Chief of the National Police, General Pol Da’i Bachtiar, said Cak Munir was suspected of being poisoned.

Toxic arsenic content found in urine, blood, and heart and exceeds normal levels.

In this case, the court sentenced Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto, a Garuda pilot, to 14 years in prison for being the perpetrator of Munir’s murder.