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Jakarta police investigate blast in family home of pro-Papuan liberation activist

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Coconuts Jakarta - November 8, 2021

Police are investigating an explosion at the family home of lawyer and pro-Papuan liberation activist Veronica Koman, who is widely seen by nationalists as a traitor to the country.

The non-lethal explosion reportedly occurred at around 10:30 on Sunday at the home of Veronica's parents in Jelambar, West Jakarta. No one was hurt in the incident and there were no reports of any major damages.

The West Jakarta Police downplayed the threat this morning, suspecting that two people threw a firecracker at the house before fleeing the scene. The police said that the explosion was minor and that it was not caused by a bomb.

Meanwhile, the National Police's Densus 88 Counter Terrorism Unit says it has yet to determine the type of explosive device used in the attack. The unit is, however, certain that the attack was a retaliation against Veronica's activism, as clued by an explicit threat in a laminated piece of paper found at the scene.

"Warning!! If the police and authorities domestically or abroad cannot arrest the loser and coward Veronica Koman, by the Earth's orders we will destroy you, and the groups that protect you, wherever you hide," the message reads in an unusual mix of English and Indonesian, signed by a little-known group called Laskar Militan Pembela Tanah Air (The Militant Defenders of the Homeland Army).

Amnesty International is among those decrying the attack, but noted today that yesterday's incident was the second threat made against Veronica's parents in recent weeks. On Oct. 24, the group said a package was sent to their house, which combusted – but did not explode – and burned a part of the outer perimeter fence.

Veronica has been in exile in Australia since 2019, having remained down under since Indonesian police charged her with incitement for public unrest and spreading hoaxes under the controversial Information and Electronic Transactions Act (UU ITE) that same year.

The human rights lawyer is arguably one of the most prominent voices on issues related to Papua and West Papua, and has long supported calls for the provinces' independence. Even from Australia, Veronica has continued to shine the light on the Papuan struggle by sharing footage of clashes with Indonesian authorities and speaking with foreign reporters amid restrictions on press freedom in the easternmost provinces.

Source: https://coconuts.co/jakarta/news/jakarta-police-investigate-blast-in-family-home-of-pro-papuan-liberation-activist

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