Originally published on September 27, 2014, at ForceChange.com

Target: Lukas Enembe, Governor of Papua

Goal: Investigate the assault on a human rights attorney and the theft of her laptop and legal documents

While walking from the courthouse to her hotel, a human rights lawyer was stabbed and robbed in the street. Stealing her briefcase, the attackers fled with her laptop and the legal documents pertaining to a politically motivated case against her client. The government of Papua must investigate this attack and punish those responsible for assaulting a human rights attorney.

After leaving court for the day, human rights lawyer Latifah Anum Siregar was returning to her hotel when unknown assailants attacked her. While stealing her briefcase, one of the attackers stabbed her in the hand. Siregar is currently defending Areki Wanimbo, Head of the Lani Besar Tribal Council. He has been charged with separatism for allegedly helping French journalists to film a documentary about the separatist movement in the region. The French journalists were detained and charged with violating migration rules. They face a maximum sentence of five years in prison for filming this political documentary.

By signing the petition below you will urge the Governor of Papua, Lukas Enembe, to investigate this attack and bring to justice the criminals attempting to sabotage her case.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Governor Lukas Enembe,

While walking from the courthouse to her hotel, human rights attorney Latifah Anum Siregar was viciously attacked and robbed. Her assailants were only interested in stealing her legal documents and work pertaining to her current case regarding defendant Areki Wanimbo. Defense attorneys should not have to live in fear of being stabbed on the streets. You must find her attackers and discourage further attacks by prosecuting them to the full extent of the law.

These assailants targeted Siregar because she is defending a man charged with separatism. The case against Areki Wanimbo is politically motivated; he allegedly assisted French journalists to film a documentary about separatism. There is no justice in imprisoning a man simply because you do not agree with the subject matter of his film.

Instead of allowing the police to ignore this incident because they do not agree with her work, your government needs to launch an investigation into this attack. People audacious enough to stab a defense attorney in public are capable of committing much more heinous crimes. Find her assailants and bring them to justice before they hurt more innocent people.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo credit: AlexR.L. via Wikimedia Commons