Veronica Koman Fugitive; Police Issue Red Notice for Interpol

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