8 December: Following the step of Munir's courage
By: Khamid Istakhori
*This article first appeared on Koran Tempo on 10 December 2024
If Munir were still with us today, he would be 59 years old.
Aksi Kamisan on 5 September 2024 took place opposite the Indonesian Presidential Palace. Aksi Kamisan is a weekly demonstration held every Thursday evening to demand the fulfilment of the Indonesian President’s promise to locate activists who were abducted during the New Order regime.
"Courageous." Among the many memories of Munir, the word courageous stands out as the most fitting description of his character. Munir's courage was evident even in his early days as a human rights activist in East Java. He faced relentless terror and intimidation from those who were threatened by his activism. Courageous is a title Munir undoubtedly deserves—a courage born of careful calculation, common sense, resolve, and the ability to take a principled stand.
His unwavering loyalty to truth and justice propelled Munir to the forefront of advocacy for victims who were marginalised, exiled, or killed by the state. He became the voice of the oppressed—workers, the poor, and victims of human rights violations—fearlessly criticising the state’s abuses of power. Munir’s courage remains his greatest legacy to those who share his values and principles.
Munir once said:"Ah, every job has its risks. If you can avoid them, do so, but if not, you must face them. The important thing is to remain intelligent. If we are afraid, they will have won because their goal has been achieved."
This powerful statement underscores Munir’s belief that fear must be resisted, as it deters people from fighting for justice. He once declared:”I must remain calm, even if I am afraid, so that others will not fear."
Munir’s words served as a rallying cry, inspiring his comrades and the victims he supported to stand firm in the face of threats. The choice was never easy, but it was necessary.
Munir’s wife, Suciwati, reinforced this sentiment when she launched the book Mencintai Munir (Loving Munir) in Jakarta two years ago, commemorating the 18th anniversary of his assassination. The book recounts the ultimate price Munir paid for his courage: he was murdered aboard Garuda Indonesia flight GA-974 from Jakarta to Amsterdam on 7 September 2004, poisoned with arsenic.
Suciwati reflected on the challenges faced by human rights defenders, particularly under regimes hostile to human rights:"Courage is key when facing threats—do not fear, and do not back down," she emphasised.
For the Indonesian labour movement, Munir’s courage was foundational in addressing the murder of Marsinah in 1993. Marsinah, a labour activist at the Catur Putra Surya watch factory in East Java, was tortured and murdered after leading a strike. Together with other human rights defenders, Munir advocated tirelessly for justice, challenging the powerful Brawijaya V Military Command and uncovering the military’s alleged involvement in her death.
Bianto, a trade union activist and Munir’s colleague during the Marsinah case, recalled the immense pressure they faced. Bianto once remarked that death seemed inevitable, merely a matter of time. Munir replied jokingly, “Aku dhisik rapapa, Mas” (“It’s okay if I die first, brother”). Munir’s bravery, paired with his acceptance of the risks, exemplified his unyielding commitment to justice.
Now, on 8 December 2024, Indonesia has completed its general election and a new leader has been chosen, yet the people remain burdened by anxiety and oppression. Factory workers and labourers on infrastructure projects endure poor wages and exploitative conditions under regressive laws. Farmers are displaced for national projects, losing their land and livelihoods. Honourary teachers work gruelingly long hours for meagre pay, while fishermen struggle with rising costs that render them unable to go to sea.
On this day, the skies over Jakarta are heavy—not just with rain but with the weight of uncertainty. Labourers, farmers, fishermen, teachers, and countless others bear witness to a system that fails them. In these struggles, we find echoes of Munir.
In Papua’s forests, his advocacy for indigenous peoples lingers. At the Indonesia-Malaysia border, his fearless defence of migrant workers endures. Among the crowded factories and urban slums, Munir’s voice resonates, demanding justice. Even at the Presidential Palace, traces of Munir remain—a legacy of resistance against oppression, marked by bloodshed but unwavering.
On this 8 December, I walk eastward, searching for answers: Why was Munir killed? Standing by his grave, I say a prayer, making peace with divine fate, though the wound remains—a sharp, lingering pain. On this day, Munir’s 59th birthday, we light a fire in his memory, vowing never to let it extinguish.
If Munir were alive today, he would be 59 years old.
Bandung-Jakarta, 8 December 2024. Commemorating Munir’s 59th birthday and International Human Rights Day.
Notes:
- Munir was a Human Rights Defender and Labor Defender in Indonesia, please read his history in this link: Remembering Munir - Inside Indonesia: The peoples and cultures of Indonesia
- This article has also been published in Tempo, a leading media in Jakarta: https://www.tempo.co/kolom/mengenang-keberanian-munir-1179296