Syailendra Persada, Jakarta – The lawyer and human rights activist Veronica Koman opened up about her reasons for not returning yet to Indonesia. The woman said she is deliberately staying in Australia as she is studying there.

"First December is nearing, I think I will be more useful here," Veronica told Tempo, Wednesday, November 27. "I mean, I will be free to provide information about conditions in Papua [from here, Australia]."

As of date, the government deems December 1 as the anniversary of the Free Papua Movement (OPM).

Veronica suspected that the government will restrict the access to information in the country's easternmost province on that day. "So I will stay here to report the condition so that the public will obtain complete information," she added.

The woman was named a suspect of provoking the masses and spreading lies through social media regarding the riots at the Papuan students' dormitory in Surabaya, East Java. She was charged under the Electronic Information and Transactions or ITE Law.

Speaking to Tempo, Veronica Koman who is a vocal advocate about issues on Papua claimed she was not surprised by the suspect naming. "I have predicted that I will be charged with vague articles of ITE Law," she said.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1277491/veronica-koman-spills-reasons-for-not-returning-yet-to-indonesia