A/HRC/13/31 276. According to the information received, retired Major General Muchdi Purwopranjono, former Deputy of the State Intelligence Agency, was charged with plotting and ordering the killing of Mr. Munir Said Thalib, former Chairman of the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances, who was poisoned with arsenic while he was aboard Garuda Airlines, on 7 September 2004, travelling to Geneva to participate in the Inter-Sessional Working Group established to draft the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances. 277. It was reported that Major General Muchdi Purwopranjono was arrested on 19 June 2008, and in August 2008 the court proceedings started. On 31 December 2008, based on the verdict of the district Court in South Jakarta, Major General Muchdi Purwopranjono was acquitted of all charges and released. The court allegedly did not take into account important evidence brought to light by an independent investigation team formed by virtue of Presidential Decision No. 111/2004 which strongly suggested, through the provision of compelling evidences, the involvement of the State Intelligence Agency in the death of Mr. Munir Said Thalib. 278. Mr. Munir Said Thalib was a prominent human rights defender whose activity in the struggle against enforced disappearance was publicly known. The attack on Mr. Munir Said Thalib’s life, apart from being a violation of his rights and those of his relatives, has been committed as a general threat against all those struggling against enforced disappearance, individually or as an association. It is of the utmost importance that the circumstances surrounding Mr. Munir Said Thalib’s death are thoroughly and impartially elucidated and that all those responsible are judged by an impartial, independent and competent tribunal, and receive sanctions which take into consideration the gravity of their crimes. 279. The Working Group regrets that no response was received from the Government. Request for a visit 280. On 12 December 2006, the Working Group requested an invitation to undertake a mission to Indonesia. The Government responded that it would not be possible to receive the Working Group during 2007 and that greater benefit would be derived from a visit at a later date. A reminder letter was sent on 3 April 2008; the Government has not yet responded. Observations 281. The Working Group reiterates its observations made in previous reports, since it received no information from the Government thereon. 282. The Working Group encourages the Government of Indonesia, in cooperation with the Government of Timor-Leste, to communicate with the Working Group to further the clarification of all outstanding cases. 283. The Working Group reminds the Government of its obligations under the Declaration to conduct thorough and impartial investigations “for as long as the fate of the victim of enforced disappearance remains unclarified” (art. 13.6). 284. The Working Group reiterates its request for a visit, to which the Government had indicated that the visit could not take place at the proposed time, and looks forward to receiving proposed dates as soon as possible. 285. The Working Group calls upon the Government to sign and ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and accept the competence of the Committee under articles 31 and 32. 62 GE.09-17704