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WORLD NEWS Thursday 5 sepTember 2019

Indonesian human rights lawyer accused of inciting protests

Associated Press local Indonesian people
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) in Surabaya to besiege a
— Indonesian police on dormitory where Papuan
Wednesday accused a students stayed after a torn
human rights lawyer of Indonesian flag was found
spreading information on in a sewer. Several po-
Twitter that incited vio- lice and soldiers have also
lent protests in the restive been suspended while be-
Papua region, in a deci- ing investigated for alleg-
sion that a rights group said edly insulting the students.
was an appalling attack on Police have arrested more
freedom of expression. than 40 people suspected
East Java police chief Luki of taking part in violent pro-
Hermawan said Veronica tests in the region.
Koman intentionally spread Wiranto, the coordinating
information about the minister of politics, law and
harsh arrests of 43 Papuan security, said Wednesday
students at a dormitory in that at least four civilians
East Java’s Surabaya city and a soldier were killed in
through her Twitter ac- the protests in Papua prov-
count, sparking protests in ince. Several government
West Papua and Papua buildings, offices, shops,
provinces. cars and gas station were
“She was very active in Papuan students, with their body and face painted with the colors of the banned separatist burned.
spreading provocative ‘Morning Star’ flag, shout slogans during a rally in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia, Saturday, Wiranto, who uses one
news,” Hermawan said at Aug. 31, 2019. name, said the situation is
a news conference. Associated Press now under control despite
Koman, who has provided the Indonesian State Intel- calling Papuan students human rights violations small protests in some plac-
legal aid to many Pap- ligence Agency and Inter- “monkeys” and “dogs” in related to Papua,” the es.
uan political activists and pol in tracking her location. Surabaya, Indonesia’s sec- group’s executive director Conflicts between indig-
documented human rights Police believe she is cur- ond largest city. for Indonesia, Usman Ha- enous Papuans and Indo-
violations in Papua, could rently abroad. Human rights group Am- mid, said in a statement. nesian security forces are
face up to six years in jail Thousands of Papuans nesty International con- He called on Indonesian common in the impover-
and a fine of 1 billion rupi- have demonstrated in demned the accusations authorities to immediate- ished Papua region, which
ah ($70,700) if found guilty the past week for the re- against Koman as an at- ly drop the accusations Indonesia took control
under Indonesia’s criminal gion’s independence and tack on freedom of expres- against Koman. more than half a century
code and electronic in- against racist remarks by sion and a brazen attempt National police spokesman ago. It was formally incor-
formation and transaction security forces. The protests to silence a brave activist. Dedi Prasetyo earlier said porated into the country in
law. were triggered by videos “These charges are clearly that police also arrested 1969 after a U.N.-sponsored
Hermawan said police will circulated on the internet intended to deter others an Indonesian woman and ballot that was seen as a
request assistance from showing security forces from speaking out against man accused of inciting sham by many.c

Japan briefs diplomats to wipe

Fukushima nuke water concerns

By MARI YAMAGUCHI Ministry, where Japanese raise safety questions amid
Associated Press officials stressed the impor- tensions with Japan that
TOKYO (AP) — Japan tried tance of combating rumors have intensified over trade
to reassure foreign diplo- about safety at the plant, and history. South Korea
mats Wednesday about which was decimated by was among those repre-
safety at the crippled Fuku- the 2011 earthquake and sented at Wednesday’s
shima nuclear plant amid tsunami, while pledging briefing. This Jan. 25, 2019, file photo shows water tanks containing
concerns about massive transparency. The water has been a contaminated water that has been treated at the Fukushima
amounts of treated but ra- The plant’s operator, To- source of concern, spark- Dai-ichi nuclear plant in Okuma town, Fukushima prefecture,
dioactive water stored in kyo Electric Power Co., or ing rumors about safety, northeastern Japan.
tanks. TEPCO, said last month that especially as Japan tries to Associated Press
Diplomats from 22 coun- it would run out of storage get countries to lift restric- ahead of the 2020 Tokyo countries and regions, in-
tries and regions attended space for the water in 2022, tions on food imports from Olympics. Import restric- cluding South Korea and
a briefing at the Foreign prompting South Korea to in and around Fukushima tions are still in place in 22 China.q