Former Indonesian senior spy charged in activist's murder

Muchdi Purwoprandjono, 59, a former Military Special Forces general and deputy head of the State Intelligence Agency, faces trial at the Jakarta District Court in the murder of Munir Said Thalib.

 Purwodranjono is the first top official who would be tried in the murder of Munir, a prominent human rights activist who died in September 2004 from arsenic poisoning while aboard a Garuda Indonesia flight to Amsterdam via Singapore.

 Indonesian human rights activists have long suspected that the intelligence agency was behind the murder of Munir, 38, who challenged abuses by the dictator Suharto's regime. 

   Muchdi faces the death penalty if found guilty of organising the team that poisoned the activist.

 He has been in custody since he turned himself in June 19 in Jakarta but has denied the allegations against him.

 Prosecutor Cyrus Sinaga said in the indictment that Munir's work in uncovering kidnappings by special forces personnel caused Muchdi to be demoted from his position as special forces chief after 52 days in office, leading Muchdi to seek vengeance against the activist.

 "I understand the content of the indictment, even though it is far from the reality," Muchdi told the court.

 Earlier this year, former Garuda Indonesia pilot Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto was sentenced to 20 years in prison for poisoning Munir. Former Garuda chief Indra Setiawan was jailed for one year for his role in the murder.

 In Pollycarpus' trial, evidence of phone conversations between Pollycarpus and Muchdi relating to the murder and of payments by Muchdi to the pilot were uncovered. 

   Human rights campaigner Usman Hamid said the trial was a starting point for a future legal process to fight impunity and a beginning for intelligence reform in the country.

 Munir's widow, Suciwati, said she hoped the trial could reveal more high-ranking officials who were involved in her husband's killing.

 "I don't support the death penalty, but I think a life sentence is appropriate," she said. "If he (Muchdi) cooperates in revealing others involved, then 20 years should be appropriate."

   About 50 Muchdi supporters rallied outside the court, accusing Munir of trying to destroy the country and denouncing his supporters as agents of the United States.