Among the handful of bombshells one can find in the cables that went back and forth between the U.S. State Department and embassy staff in Jakarta is this: the U.S. is apparently aware of evidence linking a high level Indonesian security official to the assassination of Munir Said Thalib, one of Indonesia's most outspoken human rights activists.
Munir was poisoned in 2004 as he flew from Jakarta to Amsterdam. While a handful of people thought to be responsible for the murder have been charged in his death, the "masterminds" -- as the cables refer to them -- of the assassination are not in prison.
According to reports about the cables, recently released by WikiLeaks, Indonesian police have a witness who claims that, "former [Indonesian Intelligence] chief Hendropriyono chaired two meetings at which Munir's assassination was planned." A witness at those meetings told Indonesian police that "only the time and method of the murder changed from the plans he heard discussed; original plans were to kill Munir in his office."
But as the cables make clear, the witness -- like others with first-hand knowledge of the killing -- is unwilling to testify in the case because he fears for his safety.
''A breakthrough on who ordered the murder would presumably require someone with inside information to take an extraordinary risk in testifying, and would require protection," the cables say. "Nonetheless, the police seem to have been given orders to show progress on the case, likely due to international attention.''
Separate cables also detail the backroom discussions that led to the recent resumption of U.S. military assistance to Kopassus, the Indonesian special forces who are alleged to have committed serious human rights violations in Aceh, Papua, East Timor, Jakarta and elsewhere.
The cables lay out an argument for re-engaging with the special ops community despite their rights record, by suggesting that closer military ties would encourage further reform of Indonesia's military. The cables also report that Indonesian officials threatened to derail President Obama's November, 2010 visit to Indonesia if the ties to Kopassus were not renewed. (Indonesian officials vehemently deny that this threat was ever made.)
But taken as a complete body of work, the cables make clear that Washington is keen to make more friends than enemies in Jakarta. State Department officials devote the majority of their key strokes to considerations such as: "U.S. economic interests" in a country that has grown the largest economy in Southeast Asia; "counter-terrorism cooperation" in a country where Islamic extremists have found refuge and carried out attacks; and the relationship between Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the Chinese, who are also investing heavily in their ties to Indonesia.
All this suggests that activists who want to see accountability for Munir's death are going to have to continue to pressure officials in Jakarta and Washington for further action on the case. Now that there is public evidence that the Indonesians (and the Americans) are aware of evidence against Hendropriyono, it has become even harder for officials to close the books on this tragic killing.
a) dozens of governments are expressing anger at Wikileaks for shining light on them
while
b) many hundreds of thousands of ordinary people in the same countries are vocally expressing their support for Wikileaks.
from the article above:
''A breakthrough on who ordered the murder would presumably require someone with inside information to take an extraordinary risk in testifying, and would require protection," the cables say. "Nonetheless, the police seem to have been given orders to show progress on the case, likely due to international attention.''
Hypocrisy on a stick.
It seems like the State Department was really worried about the safety of this potential whistle blower... even to the point of offering protection. Don't you think they would have 'facilitated' this persons acquisition of evidence with every means at their disposal? Wires, phone taps, software, tracking devices, contacts... you name it.
But here we have Bradley Manning receiving third world justice, just one step away from what happened to Munir Said Thalib for doing the same thing... for the same reason.
To go further, the harassment of Julian Assange and Wikileaks makes a mockery of the brave Americans in the Jakarta Embassy who would have gone to bat for Munir Said Thalib in the name of justice if they'd been given half a chance.
Big disconnect here.
Manning is getting third world justice? Let's see some evidence. Do you think that maybe, just maybe, he's being helpod in solitary confinement to prevent other soldiers in the same prison from killing him? Ya think?
Assange is the only person who claims he's the victim and being set up. Perhaps after his claims fall flat and are proven to be fabricated, you'll think differently.
No, wait. You won't think differently. I can see that this doesn't agree with your theory. Never mind.
And maybe he's not allowed to sleep during the day to prevent insomnia at night.
I guess he's not allowed to exercise for fear that he might injure himself.
No pillow or sheets, in case he might try to kill himself with them.
And the reason he's being held without trial for so long is surely because they are giving him a chance to mount a good defense.