Veronica Koman

Veronica Koman (born 14 June 1988) is an Indonesian human rights activist and lawyer, known for disseminating information on Papua and West Papua provinces.[1] She was awarded the Sir Ronald Wilson Human Rights Award in October 2019.[2]

Biography

Koman was born in Medan, North Sumatra on 14 June 1988.[3] She graduated from the faculty of law at Pelita Harapan University.[4] In 2016, she received an Indonesian government scholarship to continue studying at the Australian National University, graduating with a masters in law in July 2019.[5] Outside of her activism on Papua, she also worked as a lawyer for asylum seekers from Afghanistan and Iran.[3] In May 2017, she participated in a demonstration urging for the release of former Jakarta governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama from prison, and gave a speech criticizing Joko Widodo's government.[6]

In September 2019, Indonesian police named Koman a suspect under the country's information and electronic transactions law for alleged "provocation" and for "spreading hoaxes".[7] She was in Australia at the time and declined to return to Indonesia.[8] Indonesia threatened to ask Interpol to issue a red notice for her arrest.[9]

References

  1. ^ Wibawa, Tasha (23 October 2019). "Veronica Koman receives Australian human rights award for West Papua activism". ABC News. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  2. ^ "Indonesian human rights lawyer wins prize for West Papua work". RNZ. 24 October 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Dituding Provokator Rusuh Papua, Siapa Veronica Koman?". Suara.com (in Indonesian). 4 September 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  4. ^ "Dituding Lakukan Provokasi, Veronica Koman Bela Diri". Media Indonesia (in Indonesian). 5 September 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  5. ^ Wiratraman, Herlambang P (26 August 2020). "Veronica Koman case another nail in the coffin of intellectual freedom". Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  6. ^ "Tindakan Mendagri menyebar KTP menuai kecaman". BBC News Indonesia (in Indonesian). 12 May 2017. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  7. ^ "Indonesia police name suspect in West Papua unrest". Al Jazeera. 4 September 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  8. ^ Wibawa, Tasha (2019-09-18). "Indonesian anger mounts as police chase lawyer hiding in Australia". ABC News. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  9. ^ Wibawa, Tasha (September 18, 2019). "Veronica Koman, pro-Papuan lawyer wanted by Indonesian police, is hiding in Australia". ABC News. Retrieved 4 November 2019.


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