Jakarta – A fugitive from the law who has been sought by police over the 2019 riots in Papua, Victor Yeimo, was arrested in Jayapura, Papua, on Sunday May 9.
Nemangkawi Task Force head Senior Commissioner Iqbal Alqudusy has confirmed the arrest saying that Yeimo's arrest took place at 7.15 pm. "Today, on Sunday May 9, 2021 [we] arrested a person on the wanted list in a case of racism and rioting in Papua in 2019", Alqudusy told journalists on Sunday.
Alqudusy said that the 38-year-old man currently holds the position of West Papua National Committee (KNPB) chairperson and is also the international spokesperson for the KNPB. According to Alqudusy, Yeimo is also recorded as being the secretary of the Papua People's Petition (PRP).
Yeimo was put on the wanted persons list (DPO) in 2019. According to Alqudusy, he is alleged to have committed makar (treason, subversion, rebellion) and or broadcasting reports or issued statements which could give rise to public unrest and or broadcasting news which is unreliable or news which is excessive or incomplete.
Yeimo is suspected of insulting the Indonesian national flag, language and state symbols as well as the national anthem and or incitement to commit a crime.
"As referred to in the formulation of Article 106 in conjunction with Article 87 of the Criminal Code (KUHP) and or Article 110 of the KUHP and or Article 14 Paragraphs (1) and (2) and Article 15 of Law Number 1/1946 on Criminal Regulations", he said.
Yeimo was declared a suspect for being the instigator of riots based on witness testimonies that citied him as the leader of a demonstration or a speaker at a demonstration on Papuan independence and provoking people to vandalise public facilities. (can/ugo)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Buron Kasus Kerusuhan Papua Victor Yeimo Diringkus Polisi".]
