Amnesty International has received information about an attack on human rights lawyer Anum Siregar in Wamena, Papua province. Anum Siregar was attacked by an unknown person at about 11pm on 16 September on the way back to her hotel from a court hearing. The attacker, armed with a knife, stole her bag and injured her hand before fleeing the scene. Anum Siregar received treatment for her injuries at Wamena hospital, requiring at least two stitches.
Anum Siregar and another lawyer had travelled from Jayapura to Wamena to represent Areki Wanimbo, the Head of the Lani Besar Tribal Council, at a pre-trial hearing. When they arrived both felt they were being monitored. They were challenging Areki Wanimbo’s arrest and detention which they believe to have been unlawful and in violation of Indonesia’s Criminal Procedure Code. Areki Wanimbo was arrested on 6 August after meeting two foreign journalists who were making a documentary on the separatist movement in the Papuan region. He was accused of supporting separatist activities and charged with “rebellion” under Articles 106 and 110 of Indonesia’s Criminal Code. Amnesty International considers Areki Wanimbo to be a prisoner of conscience.
Anum Siregar is a respected human rights lawyer and has represented numerous victims of human rights violations in Papua for over a decade. She is also the Director of Alliance of Democracy for Papua (ALDP), a human rights organization in Papua. There are continued concerns that she might face retaliation for her human rights work.
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