Jakarta – Lawyer and Papua rights activist Veronica Koman has reported the arrest of West Papua National Committee (KNPB) spokesperson Victor Yeimo to the United Nations Human Rights Commission.
The report was made by the UK based human rights organisation TAPOL and Koman as Yeimo's lawyer.
"An urgent call in the name of West Papua pro-independence leader Victor Yeimo has been sent by the human rights organisation TAPOL and lawyer Veronica Koman through the Special Procedures mechanism of the UN Human Rights Commission", read a press release on the tapol.org website on Friday May 14.
Koman, as Yeimo's lawyer, said that there are indications that Papua regional police chief Inspector General Mathius Fakhiri will include additional charges against Yeimo.
"Papua regional police chief Mathius Fakhiri has indicated that additional charges may perhaps be laid against Victor Yeimo so that he grows old in jail", said Koman.
Based on this, said Koman, they will be communicating with the UN in relation to developments in Yeimo's case.
"Because of this, we will be in close communication with UN officials in order to inform them of each and every development including if there is additional questioning or ill treatment", she said.
Earlier, Nemangkawi Task Force head Senior Commissioner Iqbal Alqudusy confirmed that Yeimo was arrested on May 9.
According to Alqudusy, Yeimo was included on the police’s wanted persons list (DPO) in 2019 on suspicion of committing makar (treason, subversion, rebellion) and broadcasting a report or releasing information which could give rise to public unrest.
Yeimo has been declared a suspect for being the actor behind the 2019 riots in Papua based on witness testimony which cited him as the leader of a demonstration where he gave a speech about Papuan independence and incited the public to damage public facilities. (dis/gil)
- The TAPOL press release can be read here: https://www.tapol.org/news/indonesia-release-victor-yeimo-immediately-and-unconditionally
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Penangkapan Victor Yeimo Dilaporkan ke Dewan HAM PBB".]
