West Papua: Human rights defender, Yan Christian Warinussy followed and threatened

“You want evidence of people being killed? I will kill your tribe, your family and your children will become only bones..........”. Yan Christian Warinussy is Executive Director of the Institute of Research, Analysis and Development for Legal Aid in Manokwari, West Papua which documents human rights abuses. In recent months Yan Christian has received repeated death threats because of his work.

further Information

Posted 16/11/2007 In June 2007, Yan Christian Warinussy met Ms Hina Jilani, the UN Special Representative of the Secretary General on the situation of human rights defenders, during her official visit to Indonesia. Since then he has been subjected to ongoing intimidation and harassment.

On 15 August 2007, Yan Christian and his driver were followed by two individuals in a metallic pink Kijang Avansa car. The vehicle parked outside the office of the Institute for Investigation, Research and Human Rights for a time.

One of the individuals in the car was identified as a detective with the Regional Police. The day before, Yan Christian had received information that the military were planning new actions in “tribute” to Indonesian Independence Day (17 August) and that human rights defenders were being targeted in these new actions.

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