West Papua National Committee

The West Papua National Committee spokesman was arrested earlier this month over his alleged role in widespread anti-racism protests in 2019.

Yeimo is facing 11 charges, including treason, arson, and incitement.

A statement by police related to his arrest also referred Yeimo's appearance and representations at the UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva in March 2019.

Victor Yeimo is the foreign spokesman for the West Papua National Committee, or KNPB, which has a large following in the Indonesian-ruled provinces of Papua region.

Yeimo has been on a police wanted list for treason suspects related to his alleged role in the widespread anti-racism protests in August and September 2019.

The protests in a number of cities and towns in the region followed highly publicised racist attacks on Papuan students in Java.

The West Papua National Committee, or KNPB, had notified police about its intention to hold a march today to commemorate the first Indonesian military invasion in 1961.

Police in the various centres have rejected granting them permission, but the KNPB has indicated it plans to proceed anyway.

However last night police were understood to have arrested 30 people involved in a planned mobilisation in the Highlands city of Wamena.