On late Thursday afternoon of September 2004, around 60 victims and relatives of victims of human rights violation were sitting in crowds in front of the office of KONTRAS. There will be special meeting that afternoon; a meeting, a farewell meeting with Munir before he left for the Netherlands for continuing his Master study on international law on human rights in Utrecht University. The 60 victims and their relatives are from various victim’s communities that have been with Munir for struggling, at least since early 1998 when Munir was coordinating KONTRAS.

At about 4 p.m, Munir shown up. He got off from his old car. Munir got the car since 4 months ago. It was a cheap used Toyota that he bought from a friend by credit. Then Munir greeted all of us, and we all entered the meeting room of KONTRAS. First, Munir delivered a ten minute speech, saying that he was going to the Netherlands for continuing his study on subject that very much related to human rights, justice and the victims. He added further that his going to study was part of the ongoing struggle for justice and human rights. He also said that his being in the Netherlands did not mean that he was away from the victims. More specifically, Munir said about the need for the victims to unite and strengthen solidarity, as the coming presidential election (to be held on September 20, 2004) will not bring about significant change in favor of victims’ interests.

The newly adopted Bill on Truth and Reconciliation Commission (KKR) and the controversial Draft Bill on the Indonesian Military (RUU TNI) needed to be responded by the victims. Otherwise both Bills will pave the way for the perpetrators of human rights violation to impunity and the military to go back to politics.

The were many responses from the victims.

Most expressed they expectation that Munir will succeed in his study and go back again soon to the field of struggle with the victims. However, it can not be hidden that the victims felt loss with the daily absence of Munir in few days to come. Seeing this, Munir said that he will be available for 24 hours for the victims. “If there is anything you want to let me know, please send me letter. You can also email me from KONTRAS office. It is available for the victims”.

Well, no body thought that that Thursday afternoon was the last meeting with Munir, until suddenly on September 7, 2004, we were shock by the news that our best comrade, leader and teacher Munir, (39) has passed away in his flight to Amsterdam.

People from all over Indonesia shed their tears, expressed their deep sorrow and felt a great loss because of that. Munir’s death has become the greatest loss in the Indonesians’ struggle for defending the victims’ human rights and solving the cases of human rights violations by the state.

Mrs. Ade Sitompul, one of the human rights defenders from the Voice of Indonesian Human Rights (SHMI), stated that a figure like Munir can only be found in a certain situation. So, she said, it would take a long time to have someone like him.