Veronica Koman
{{short description|Indonesian lawyer and human right activist}}
Veronica Koman (born 14 June 1988) is an Indonesian human rights activist and lawyer, known for disseminating information on Papua and West Papua provinces.{{cite news |last1=Wibawa |first1=Tasha |title=Veronica Koman receives Australian human rights award for West Papua activism |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-24/veronica-koman-west-papua-human-rights-lawyer-activist-awards/11633222 |accessdate=15 August 2020 |publisher=ABC News |date=23 October 2019}} She was awarded the Sir Ronald Wilson Human Rights Award in October 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/401682/indonesian-human-rights-lawyer-wins-prize-for-west-papua-work|title=Indonesian human rights lawyer wins prize for West Papua work|website=RNZ |date=24 October 2019 |language=en-nz|access-date=4 November 2019}}
Biography
Koman was born in Medan, North Sumatra on 14 June 1988.{{cite news |title=Dituding Provokator Rusuh Papua, Siapa Veronica Koman? |url=https://www.suara.com/news/2019/09/04/153143/dituding-provokator-rusuh-papua-siapa-veronica-koman?page=1 |access-date=9 March 2022 |work=Suara.com |date=4 September 2019 |language=id}} She graduated from the faculty of law at Pelita Harapan University.{{cite news |title=Dituding Lakukan Provokasi, Veronica Koman Bela Diri |url=https://mediaindonesia.com/politik-dan-hukum/257502/dituding-lakukan-provokasi-veronica-koman-bela-diri |access-date=9 March 2022 |work=Media Indonesia |date=5 September 2019 |language=id}} 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.{{cite web |last1=Wiratraman |first1=Herlambang P |title=Veronica Koman case another nail in the coffin of intellectual freedom |url=https://indonesiaatmelbourne.unimelb.edu.au/veronica-koman-case-another-nail-in-the-coffin-of-intellectual-freedom/ |access-date=9 March 2022 |date=26 August 2020}} Outside of her activism on Papua, she also worked as a lawyer for asylum seekers from Afghanistan and Iran. 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.{{cite news |title=Tindakan Mendagri menyebar KTP menuai kecaman |url=https://www.bbc.com/indonesia/indonesia-39893468 |access-date=9 March 2022 |work=BBC News Indonesia |date=12 May 2017 |language=id}}
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".{{cite news |title=Indonesia police name suspect in West Papua unrest |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/09/indonesia-police-suspect-west-papua-unrest-190904063940855.html |accessdate=15 August 2020 |publisher=Al Jazeera |date=4 September 2019}} She was in Australia at the time and declined to return to Indonesia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-18/veronica-koman-pro-papua-lawyer-may-be-hiding-australia/11516246|title=Indonesian anger mounts as police chase lawyer hiding in Australia|last=Wibawa|first=Tasha|date=2019-09-18|website=ABC News|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-11-07}} Indonesia threatened to ask Interpol to issue a red notice for her arrest.{{cite news |last1=Wibawa |first1=Tasha |title=Veronica Koman, pro-Papuan lawyer wanted by Indonesian police, is hiding in Australia |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-18/veronica-koman-pro-papua-lawyer-may-be-hiding-australia/11516246 |accessdate=4 November 2019 |publisher=ABC News |date=September 18, 2019}}
References
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Category:Indonesian human rights activists
Category:Indonesian people of Chinese descent
Category:Indonesian women lawyers
Category:Australian National University alumni
Category:21st-century Indonesian lawyers
Category:Pelita Harapan University alumni
Category:21st-century Indonesian women lawyers
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