Suciwati is the widow of Munir Said Thalib. One of Indonesia’s leading human rights campaigners, Munir was poisoned on a Garuda Airlines flight in 2004. Since Munir’s murder, Suciwati has spearheaded a relentless pursuit for resolution of this case. In 2008, Suciwati traveled to Europe on a PBI-organized speaking tour and met with parliamentarians from UK and Germany, to advocate for the international community to continue pressuring the Indonesian government. She also participated in the Conference on 10 years of Security Reform in Indonesia, organized by Watch Indonesia.
Human rights groups and independent observers believe that complex links to the Indonesian state intelligence agency, BIN, lie behind Munir’s poisoning. In early 2008, the Supreme Court convicted former Garuda employee, Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto, and former head of Garuda Airlines, Indra Setiawan, for their involvement. In June 2008, former BIN deputy chief, Muchdi Purwopranjono, was charged with ordering Muni’s murder. However, on 31 December 2008, the trial court panel of judges read out a verdict of absolute acquittal. Upon appeal by the prosecution team, the Supreme Court ruled that there were no errors in the trial proceedings and, thus, the verdict would stand.
Suciwati and Komite Aksi Solidaritas Untuk Munir (KASUM), Action Committee in Solidarity for Munir, continue the struggle for justice. In addition, Komnas HAM, National Commission for Human Rights, and the Judicial Commission of the House of Representatives are investigating the verdict.
Although Suciwati receives occasional indirect threats and warnings, her personal security situation has improved over recent years, arguably due to her status as an internationally known human rights defender.
