Mahfud Md Considers Veronica Koman's Data on Papuan Victims Junk
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11 February 2020 21:23 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Politics, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud Md asserted that the government had never officially received data on political prisoners and the death toll in Papua as claimed by human rights activist and advocate Veronica Koman.
Earlier reported, Veronica claimed her side had handed the data to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo directly during the latter’s state visit to Canberra, Australia, on Monday, February 10.
According to Mahfud, many people flocked the President for a handshake or to give him envelopes or letters during the visit. However, no official reception of the data, he added.
“Many people there trying to shake the President’s hand, some gave documents, envelopes, letters, or such kinds. So we don’t know whether Koman is among them or not. We bring home all letters, there are lots of them,” said the Coordinating Minister at Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, Tuesday, February 11.
Should Veronica’s document on Papua is brought by the President, Mahfud went on, it is possibly still sealed, let alone be read. “If it exists, it is just junk,” he remarked.
Previously through her press release on February 10, Veronica Koman said that President Jokowi had received data on political prisoners and the dead victims in Papua that included names and locations of the 57 Papuan political prisoners who are facing treason charges and detained in seven cities across Indonesia.
DEWI NURITA
