Explosion at Papuan Activist Veronica Koman Parents House - Relative are Also Terrorized

Nusantara Pol - An explosion occurred at the home of the parents of human rights activist, Veronica Koman, in West Jakarta, Sunday (11/07/2021) afternoon. 

The Head of the Tanjung Duren Criminal Investigation Unit, AKP Fiernando Adriansyah, said the police are aware of the explosion based on public information.   

Illustration. (Photo: Pixabay)

"We received reports from the public that someone heard an explosion in front of someone's house whose address is at Jelambar Baru," said Fiernando as reported by Kompas.

The police have collected evidence around the scene and examined witnesses. 

"(Witness) until now the person concerned is the owner of the house and one neighbor," said Fiernando. In addition, the police are also coordinating with the Forensic Laboratory Center to investigate the origin of the explosion. 

The explosion is believed to have come from firecrackers. "While the strong suspicion is firecrackers," explained West Jakarta Metro Police Criminal Investigation Unit Commissioner, Joko Dwi Harsono, Monday (11/8/2021), as quoted from Kompas. 

According to Tempo, the police suspect that the explosion at the parents' house of human rights activist, Veronica Koman, was carried out by two people riding a motorcycle. "Meanwhile, it is like that," said West Jakarta Metro Police Chief Commissioner, Ady Wibowo, when confirmed, Monday, November 8, 2021. 

There were no victims in the incident. However, there was damage to the door and red liquid, which appeared to be from red paint, was splattered. 

In addition, at the scene of the incident, a laminated piece of paper was also found with a threatening message written on it. 

The message was written signed by the Laskar Militan Pembela Tanah Air (Motherland Militant Defender Group), which was allegedly addressed to Veronica. 

According to Tempo, the threatening messages reads, "WARNING!!! IF THE POLICE AND APARAT DALAM MAUPUN LUAR NEGERI TIDAK BISA MENANGKAP VERONIKA KUMAN@HERO PECUNDANG DAN PENGECUT, KAMI TERPANGGIL BUMI HANGUSKAN DIMANAPUN BERSEMBUNYI. MAUPUN GEROMBOLAN PELINDUNGMU".

The translated threatening message addressed to Veronica stated that if the  authorities could not catch her, the group would do a scorch the earth on her hideout and her protectors.

Apart from Veronica's parents, Veronica's Legal Team,  Michael Himan, said that terror was also experienced by Veronica's relative. 

On the same day, a package of chicken carcass was sent via an online taxi bike to one of Veronica's relatives in West Jakarta. The package was delivered on Sunday morning, but only opened on Sunday night. However, the relative was suspicious of the package addressed to Veronica because the relative has no longer communicated with her.

After reporting to the authorities, the Densus 88 Team (anti-terror unit), Gegana (bomb defuser unit), and the West Jakarta Police went to the house. 

"Apparently it contained a chicken carcass and terrorizing words. Same, a threat to Vero," said Michael. As quoted from Kompas, the threatening message stated that whoever hide Veronika Koman would suffer the same fate as the chicken. 

Veronica Koman became a controversial figure in Indonesia due to to her activism related to human rights in Papua.

According to Tempo (8/11/2021), Usman Hamid, Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia, has stated that the government should protect Veronica Koman.

"It is strongly suspected that this act was a massive terror followed by Veronica Koman's advocacy steps from her current domicile on the Australian continent," said Yan Christian Warinussy, Papuan Activist, (7/11/2021), as quoted from Tempo. 

"The alleged act of terror directed at Veronica Koman's parents was misdirected and disproportionate, perhaps it could be reached as a structured systematic effort, so that a legal investigation by the National Police should be carried out to find out who the perpetrators were," said Yan Christian Warinussy.