1) Veronica Koman Fugitive; Police Issue Red Notice for Interpol

2) Police allegedly hijack activist’s car during a peaceful rally in Sorong Municipality

3) Five survivors of Papua gun battle recovering: Police

4) GUEST BLOG: Maire Leadbeater – Violence in West Papua has parallels with East Timor 20 years ago

5) Fate of Surya Anta and other detained Papuan activists still unclear

6) Indonesia Condemns Statement by UN Experts on Papua Unrest

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https://en.tempo.co/read/1250173/veronica-koman-fugitive-police-issue-red-notice-for-interpol?BeritaUtama&campaign=BeritaUtama_Click_3

1) Veronica Koman Fugitive; Police Issue Red Notice for Interpol

Translator: 

Ririe Ranggasari

 

Editor: 

Laila Afifa

20 September 2019 12:25 WIB

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The East Java Regional Police have named Veronica Koman as a suspect for provoking and distributing false information about the riots in the Papuan student dormitory in Surabaya. Veronica has also been put on the police most wanted list (DPO) as a fugitive.

The police have also issued a red notice to Interpol for Koman. The police's international relations division and Interpol have coordinated with the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Indonesian Embassy in Australia.

East Java Regional Police Chief Insp. Gen. Luki Hermawan said on Friday, September 20, that the Indonesian Embassy had communicated with the activist, who currently resides in Australia to get her master's degree.

"I don't know the content of their conversation," Luki said. 

He said that establishing Veronica as a fugitive and placing her name in the most wanted list was done according to the procedure. Before naming her a fugitive, investigators summoned her twice, but she never showed up.

In a written statement, Veronica Koman stated that the police's act of naming her a suspect is an attempt to criminalize her, as well as to divert public attention from the actual issue; which is what's happening in Papua.

The 31-year-old woman said the police "abused their authority and went too far in attempts to criminalize me—both in their manner of doing so and by exaggerating facts."

NUR HADI

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https://eng.jubi.co.id/police-allegedly-hijack-activists-car-during-a-peaceful-rally-in-sorong-municipality/

2) Police allegedly hijack activist’s car during a peaceful rally in Sorong Municipality

Published 2 hours ago on 21 September 2019 By pr9c6tr3_juben

Jayapura, Jubi – Police intelligence allegedly kidnapped three of seven members of Solidarity of Sorong Raya community on their pickup during a rally on Wednesday (18/9/19) in Sorong Municipality.

While the news is writing, the presence of the three identified as Joni Bame, Yosep Syufi and Yeheskel Kalasuat is still unknown. “We don’t know where they are taking them,” Naftali Yewen told Jubi by phone one Wednesday evening (18/9/19).

Naftali Yewen, the Chairman of Garda-P (Papua Democratic People’s Movement), said the police blocked the truck of seven protesters at around 11:00 pm at Jalan KPR Malanu.

“They (the police) used the patrol car to block the road. Both equipped police and mobile brigade personnel were there,” he said.

A few moments later, he said the pickup driver was asked to get out of the car because he had no car licence. “While negotiating, a police intelligence entered and started driving the truck towards the city with seven passengers on it. The protesters just found out that the pickup driver was a police intelligence after 100 meters, and they repeatedly shouted for help,” said Naftali, who followed the car with his motorcycle.

Then, when the pickup was across Kelapa Dua Aspen (pensioner’s dormitory), four of them jumped from the truck. “Four jumped from the pickup and fell. We tried chasing the truck up to the Regent Office, but a car patrol had already blocked the road. So, we missed our friends there. We went to the police station and the district military base, but we didn’t see the pickup. So, we backed to the location where we started the rally,” he said.

Meanwhile, another arrest also took place at almost the same time in a different location. Two activists Alvindo Yesnat and Mario Yumteng got arrested in front of Remu Terminus, Sorong Municipality.

“Two people have also been arrested at around 11:00 pm near the traffic light. When he was ready to give a speech while holding pamphlets, a truck and a tank with mobile brigade personnel inside came into the crowd. Then two equipped mobile brigade personnel arrested the orator (Mario Yumteng) and brought him to the Sorong Municipal Police Station,” he said.

Along with this arrest, both police and mobile brigade personnel dispersed the crowd and took away their megaphone and pamphlets.

Furthermore, Naftali Yewen explained this solidarity rally aims to express their rejection of President Joko Widodo’s plan to build a presidential palace in Papua.

“Because it’s not what Papuan people want. It is the only interest of a particular group of people who ask for a regional extension and building a presidential palace in Papua. It’s not what Papuans needs today. We want a referendum, nothing else,” said Yewen.

Meanwhile, until the news is published, Jubi keeps trying to get confirmation from the Sorong Municipal Police Chief Mario Christy Siregar but has not yet received the response. (*)

Reporter: Yuliana Lantipo
Editor: Pipit Maizier

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https://en.antaranews.com/news/133208/five-survivors-of-papua-gun-battle-recovering-police

3) Five survivors of Papua gun battle recovering: Police

5 hours ago  

Timika, Papua (ANTARA) - Five survivors of a gun battle between Indonesian troops and armed Papuan separatists in Olenki Village, Mabugi Subdistrict, Puncak District, Papua Province, on September 17, are recovering from gunshot wounds, a police officer revealed Friday. "Two of them have even been allowed to go home, while three others are still being treated at the Mimika Public Hospital," Chief of Mimika District's Police Precinct Adjunct Sen. Coms. Agung Marlianto told journalists here.

Four of the five villagers who suffered gunshot wounds have been identified as Topina Mom (36), Tabuni (37), Herina Kinal (32), and Yefrina Mom (16) while the other one is a man who sustained injuries on his right leg and was evacuated to the hospital Thursday.

Two of the victims will need to undergo surgery to remove the bullets lodged in their bodies. The bullets will then be sent for examination at Makassar-based police's forensic laboratory, Marlianto said.

In connection with the firing in Olenki village, Puncak District Head, Willem Wandik, said Wednesday that the armed rebels often use villagers as human shields.

Three civilians were killed in the firing. They are Tekiman Wonda (33) and two infants who have been identified as Edison Mom and Rudi Mom.

To avoid civilian casualties in the future, he appealed to the TNI and the police to carry out a persuasive approach, which would compel the rebels to surrender and stop attacking security personnel and civilians.

Willem Wandik also urged all the parties to maintain peace and end the conflict that could be used by others for their political gains.

Meanwhile, Spokesman of the XVII/Cenderawasih Regional Military Command, Lt. Col. Eko Daryanto, confirmed that there had been civilian casualties and expressed his condolences.

XVII/Cenderawasih Regional Military Commander, Major General Herman Asaribab, will coordinate with the Papua police chief to set up a joint team to investigate the incident, he said.

Herman Asaribab would also conduct a comprehensive evaluation on how the operation to hunt down the armed rebels is to be carried out so that further civilian casualties are avoided, he said. (INE)
Related news: Wiranto awaits report on exchange of fire in Papua
Related news: Indonesian troops will remain in Papua: Defense Minister

EDITED BY INE

Reporter: Evarianus S, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Suharto

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https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2019/09/19/guest-blog-maire-leadbeater-violence-in-west-papua-has-parallels-with-east-timor-20-years-ago/

4) GUEST BLOG: Maire Leadbeater – Violence in West Papua has parallels with East Timor 20 years ago

By

 The Daily Blog

 - 

September 19, 2019

It is somewhat of an irony that West Papua’s recent uprising coincided with the twentieth anniversary of East Timor’s vote on independence.

  In mid August Papuan students studying in Central Java were subjected to a combined attack from militia gangs and Indonesian security forces. Their attackers screamed insults calling them ‘pigs’ and ‘monkeys’ before  tear- gassing and arresting a large number on a unsubstantiated charge of damaging an Indonesian flag. This was the spark that lit the flame and angry demonstrations followed all over West Papua and in many Indonesian cities as well.   Foreign journalists were banned from West Papua and Jakarta imposed an internet blackout – in some places the internet remains partially blocked making it difficult to share photos or videos. So it is extremely difficult to confirm the resulting arrests and deaths and  destruction. Human Rights Watch say that there have been at least 10 deaths and are calling for investigations and for the UN Human Rights Commissioner to be given access immediately.

For the West Papuans the demand to be treated with dignity quickly extended into a renewed call for an internationally fair referendum on self-determination.  Jakarta’s response has been to intensify the repression of all dissent. As many as 60 students have been detained for alleged damage to property while seven activists are being held in Jakarta for their role in a solidarity demonstration. The Jakarta activists and at least two youth leaders in West Papua are facing charges of ‘makar’ or treason which potentially carries a sentence of up to twenty years. Thousands of additional troops have been sent to West Papua.

Veronica Koman is an Indonesian human rights lawyer with exceptional courage.  She has long been subject to threats on account of her work defending West Papuan clients and for her advocacy for West Papuan rights.  During this current crisis she shared videos on her Twitter account documenting the unrest. For this she now faces charges of ‘incitement’ and ‘spreading fake news’. She is currently in Australia and Jakarta has asked her to turn herself in.  If she does not an Interpol ‘red’ notice will be issued. Australia is refusing to say how it will respond, but won’t rule out acting on such a notice. 

Since West Papua was handed over to Indonesian control in 1963 under a US brokered agreement,  Indonesia has worked hard to keep West Papua and its independence struggle hidden from the world.   But we cannot use the excuse of ignorance now.

For me it is hard not to be reminded of the situation in East Timor back in 1999 when the Indonesian military tried their hardest to sabotage the independence vote.  When the Timorese voted for freedom despite the prevailing violence and intimidation, the Generals unleashed a scorched earth programme and additional troops were poured into the territory.  Telecommunications were cut and journalists were forced to leave. General Wiranto was Commander in Chief at the time of the 1999 violence. He was never held accountable and now he is Chief Security Minister in charge of this latest repression in West Papua.

 It is particularly alarming that pro-Jakarta militia have been working alongside the security forces in West Papua just as they once did in East Timor.  Reports and video evidence indicate that nationalist militia were involved in the violent response to demonstrations in the capital Jayapura and in other centres. 

Another parallel is the silence of New Zealand and its western allies in the face of mounting crisis.    I visited East Timor in April 1999 and while I was there 57 people were killed as they sheltered in a Liquica church.  On my return I took advantage of an opportunity to waylay Foreign Minister Don McKinnon to show him some photos of injured victims and plead with him to try to persuade the UN to send a peacekeeping force to stem the mounting violence.  He declined. A couple of months later the UN did become involved, but with small numbers and a limited mandate based on the fiction that Indonesia’s security forces were cooperative. New Zealand sent ten unarmed policemen who did a great job against impossible odds, but our leaders still declined to criticise Indonesia or even cut off defence ties. 

United States researchers have just released formerly declassified 1999 documents that show that the State Department was in no doubt that the Indonesian military was actively fomenting the militia violence with the aim of derailing the referendum process.  In June a US Embassy official reported that it was ‘taken as given by local observers’ that the pro-Jakarta militias and local military were working ‘hand in hand’. He said the local people were terrified to speak to outsiders.

The East Timorese paid an unimaginably heavy price for their freedom- the 1999 violence was just the cataclysmic finale to a brutal 23 year long occupation.  Throughout New Zealand pursued ‘quiet diplomacy’. We abstained on the UN vote to condemn the 1975 invasion and subsequently followed a line that the occupation was ‘irreversible’. However, in September 1999 things got so bad that the United States finally called out Indonesia and suspended its defence ties.   Only then did New Zealand follow suit. 

 Will our government sit on its hands until a second 1999?  I am waiting for Prime Minister Ardern to speak out about the ongoing racist attacks and insist that Indonesia respect the voice of the Pacific Island Forum leaders and make urgent arrangements for a visit to West Papua from the UN Human Rights Commissioner. 

And of course to take a stand on behalf of Veronica Koman and all of those in jail for taking part in demonstrations, raising the banned Morning Star flag and daring to express their hopes for freedom. The perfect opportunity comes up when Ms Ardern attends the UN General Assembly next week.

For its part West Papua Action Auckland and Oceania Interrupted, supported by First Union and Waiata Artists Trust host a fundraiser on Tuesday 24 September 6 pm at the Capitol Cinema: a showing of the great movie: Herbs Songs of Freedom: Tickets available from Eventbrite  for $17 or $25.

 Maire Leadbeater is a human rights advocate and expert on West Papua.

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https://www.indoleft.org/news/2019-09-18/fate-of-surya-anta-and-other-detained-papuan-activists-still-unclear.html

5) Fate of Surya Anta and other detained Papuan activists still unclear

CNN Indonesia – September 18, 2019

Jakarta – The Papua Students Advocacy Team from the Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) has reported alleged ethical violations committed by the East Java regional police (Polda) and the Metro Jaya Polda against Surya Anta, Veronica Koman and several other Papuan students who have been declared suspects.

The violations were reported to the National Police Commission (Kompolnas) in South Jakarta on Wednesday September 18. LBH Jakarta also raised questions about the fate of Anta and several of his colleagues who are currently being detained at the Mobile Brigade Command Headquarters (Mako Brimob) in Kelapa Dua, Depok.

Advocate team member Okky Wiratama said that they had found several violations by law enforcement officials against the suspects being held at the Mako Brimob. At least five of the alleged violations were reported to Kompolnas.

First, the alleged obstruction of legal aid to the suspects. According to Wiratama, the six suspects have the right to obtain legal aid and this cannot be blocked as regulated under Article 54, Article 57 Paragraph 1 and Article 70 of the Criminal Procedural Code (KUHAP).

“Two days ago we went to the Mako Brimob several times but it turned out that attorneys are still being prevented from going inside to meet with the Papuan colleagues who are inside the Mako Brimob, [even though] we as attorneys showed them our powers of attorney documents in accordance with the procedures applied by the Polda Metro Jaya”, he said at Kompolnas.

Wiratama added that there were alleged procedural violations during the arrests of the suspects and witnesses. The arrest of the seven Papuan activists, namely Carles Kossay, Dano Tabuni, Ambosius Mulait, Isay Wenda, Ariana Lokbere, Norince Kogoya and Naliana Wijangge, were not in accordance with Article 18 Paragraph 1 of the KUHAP, Article 33 Paragraph 2 and Article 37 Paragraph 1 of National Police Regulation (Perkap) Number 14/2012 on the Management of Investigations.

In addition to this alleged violations occurred related to the treatment and detention of the suspects. He gave as an example the detention of Indonesian People’s Front for West Papua (FRI-WP) spokesperson Anta who has been continuously bombarded by patriotic songs such as Garuda Pancasila.

Anta has also been placed in a separate isolation cell which only has a small ventilation duct and is extremely hot. Wiratama said that this conflicts with Article 54 of Perkap 14/2012.

Police he continued also committed procedural violation during raids on premises. For example investigators did not show a search warrant authorised by the head of a district court and failed to consult with the neighbourhood association and community unit heads when they arrested Carles Kossay, Dano Tabuni, Naliana Wasiangge, Ariana Lokbere and Norince Kogoya.

Next, there were alleged violations related to police investigation reports (BAP). Wiratama said that the Metro Jaya regional police have still not given a copy of the BAPs to the suspects or their lawyers. This is believed to conflict with Article 72 of the KUHAP and Article 66 of the Perkap 14/2012.

Team member Tigor Hutapea added that they will also report the East Java regional police over the naming of Veronica Koman as a suspect, although Hutapea conceded that this was just an act of solidarity with a fellow human rights defender and he was not acting as Koman’s attorney.

“In our view Veronica Koman was acting in her capacity as an advocate, she has been the lawyer for the AMP [Papuan Student Alliance] since 2018, when the incident occurred at the Surabaya [Papuan student] dormitory on 16-17 (of August) Veronica Koman was not actually in Jakarta or Indonesia at the time, but as a lawyer she had direct access to a great deal of information from student friends about the incident as well as several videos, photographs, which Veronica Koman was given directly [by people] on the scene”, he said.

Hutapea believes that the naming of Koman as a suspect was arbitrary because as a lawyer representing the Papuan students she had the right to publish the information she obtained on social media.

Hutapea also said that Koman cannot be declared as a suspect because of her status as a lawyer. “We believe that as an advocate she cannot be prosecuted under criminal or civil law as regulated under the Law on Advocates as well as a MK [Supreme Court] ruling”, he said.

CNN Indonesia is still attempting to contact the Metro Jaya and East Java regional police to get a response to the report with Kompolnas.

Police however have denied reports that Anta is being held in an isolation cell separate from the other detainees.

“The reports that the suspect Surya Anta has been placed in an isolation cell are untrue, because Polri [the Indonesian police] do not have isolation cells as reported”, said Metro Jaya regional police public relations head Senior Commissioner Argo Yuwono in a written release on Thursday September 5.

Prior to being detained, he continued, Anta was processed in accordance with procedures, namely given a health check, given sufficient food, given a detainee’s uniform, allowed to make any complaints and given time for visitations. “And he was bought a Bible for spiritual guidance”, added Yuwono.

Kompolnas says that it will send a letter to Metro Jaya regional police chief (Kapolda) Inspector General Gatot Eddy and East Java regional police chief Inspector General Lucky Hermawan in relation to the complaint.

Kompolnas Commissioner Poengky Indarti said that they first need to confirm with Eddy and Hermawan to get a written response to the complaint lodged by LBH Jakarta.

“Kompolnas has only just received the complaint from our colleagues at LBH Jakarta, Kompolnas will following this up by getting a clarification from the Metro Jaya Kapolda and the East Java Kapolda”, said Indarti at the Kompolnas offices. (gst/gil)

[Abridged translation by James Balowski. The original title of the article was “Surya Anta Tak Diketahui Nasibnya, Polisi Diduga Langgar Etik”.]

Source: https://www.cnnindonesia.com/nasional/20190918193140-12-431715/surya-anta-tak-diketahui-nasibnya-polisi-diduga-langgar-etik

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https://jakartaglobe.id/context/indonesia-condemns-statement-by-un-experts-on-papua-unrest

  

6) Indonesia Condemns Statement by UN Experts on Papua Unrest 

BY : NUR YASMIN 

SEPTEMBER 20, 2019 

Jakarta. Indonesia has condemned a press statement issued by five independent United Nations Human Rights Council special rapporteurs in which they expressed serious concern over recent development in Papua.

The five rapporteurs also urged the Indonesian government on Tuesday to drop all charges against human rights lawyer Veronica Koman, whom they said had been "subjected to harassment and abuse online for her work on alleged human rights violations in Papua."

Police have declared Veronica a suspect, accusing her of spreading false information and provoking unrest in Papua and West Papua by publishing reports on the protests and attacks against Papuan students in East Java.

Sporadic unrest in broke out in several cities in Indonesia's two easternmost provinces after racial animosity by hardline Muslims and members of the police and military against Papuan students in Surabaya, East Java, in August.

The government said false information and provocative content spread on social media, including by Veronica, had contributed to the unrest.

The government managed to restore order in Papua and West Papua after about two weeks of unrest.

"We welcome actions by the government against the racial incident, but we urge it to take immediate steps to protect Veronica Koman from any form of retaliation and intimidation and drop all charges against her," the special rapporteurs said in the press statement.

They also expressed concern that the authorities may revoke Veronica's passport, block her bank accounts and request Interpol to issue an international arrest warrant against her.

The rapporteurs advised the government to maintain full internet access in Papua, after blocking it between Aug. 21 and Sept. 4.

"We urge the government of Indonesia to recognize the rights of all protesters and to ensure the continuation of the internet service... Restrictions on the internet and access to information in general have a detrimental impact on the ability of individuals to express themselves, and to share and receive information," they said.

Indonesia's permanent mission to the United Nations in Geneva issued a statement expressing regret over the press release by the UN special rapporteurs.

"Limits on internet access were imposed in accordance with the law and the Constitution. The public interest and respect for freedom of speech were considered, especially to prevent the spread of hate speech and hoaxes, which triggered unrest in Papua," the mission said in the statement the Jakarta Globe received on Monday.

It added that Veronica was a suspect and had ignored several police summonses for questioning.

"[Her spreading of hoaxes and hate speech] is evidently unmatched with her self-proclamation as a human rights defender, but rather as an individual act that was intentionally spreading false news, which caused incitement and provocation resulting in the unrest," the mission said.

Police vs. Veronica 

The East Java Police have, in response, refused to intervene in Veronica's case, said they would soon put her name on a list of wanted suspects.

"There should be no intervention. Indonesian law is sovereign," East Java Police spokesman Chief Comr. Frans Barung Mangera said on Wednesday, as quoted by Kompas.

Veronica has defended herself in a statement posted on her Facebook account on Sunday.

"The Indonesian police have overstepped their authority and gone over the top with exaggerations in an attempt to criminalize me," she said, adding that the government was unable to handle the prolonged conflict in Papua and thus made her the scapegoat.

"West Papua has for decades been among the most restricted regions worldwide. My criminalization is nothing more than the continuation of a longstanding strategy to prevent information leaking out to the rest of the world," she said.

Police have also expressed concern over multiple bank accounts in Veronica's name, which showed withdrawals of large amounts, some from Papua. However, she accused the police of abusing their powers by looking in her bank accounts.

"The Indonesian police have abused their power by threatening to freeze my bank accounts, making exaggerated claims about the content and creating a false narrative of cash flows in 'conflict areas' to encourage media speculation and smear my character. There is no legal basis for this and the laws they are misusing to criminalize me have no connection with my financial situation," the human rights lawyer said.

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