Indonesia ex-spy chief on trial

By Lucy Williamson
BBC News, Jakarta

Prosecutors say Mr Purwapranjono was behind the plot to kill Mr Munir

Muchdi Purwopranjono, a former chief of Indonesia's intelligence agency, has gone on trial in Jakarta.

He was deputy head of the agency when human rights activist Munir Thalib was murdered during a flight from Jakarta to Amsterdam four years ago.

Mr Purwopranjono is accused of ordering the death of the activist, who had exposed human rights abuses by Indonesia's armed forces.

His trial is being seen as a test of Indonesia's move to democracy.

Armed forces

It was quick and simple, but a key moment for Indonesia.

Mr Purwopranjono sat in court to hear the charge that he ordered the murder of Mr Munir. Not so, said his lawyer.

He left soon after, mobbed by journalists, and was bundled quickly into a car under tight security.

Two airline staff have already been jailed for assisting and carrying out Mr Munir's murder.

Both have alleged their instructions came from the country's intelligence agency, which until now has been seen as largely untouchable.

The human rights activist was poisoned with arsenic while flying to Amsterdam in 2004, six years after Indonesia's move to democracy.

This case is seen as a key test for the development of democracy in the country.