Gov’t Grants Compensation to Victims of Past Terrorist Acts

President Jokowi attends the Handover of Compensation for Victims of Past Terrorist Acts, at the State Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday (16/12). (Photo by: Public Relations/Agung)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo handed over compensation amounting to Rp39.205 billion to 215 victims and the heirs of the victims of 40 past terrorist incidents.

“Hopefully, the presence of the State among the victims will be able to give encouragement, provide moral support to get through a very difficult situation due to the impact of terrorism, so that the victims can continue their lives and look at the future more optimistically,” President Jokowi said at the Handover of Compensation for Victims of Past Terrorist Acts, at the State Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday (16/12).

The handover of compensation is a form of state concern and responsibility to the victims who have been waiting for a dozen years.

The President acknowledged that the amount of compensation provided by the State is certainly not proportional to the suffering felt by victims who for decades have seen a decline in economic conditions due to losing jobs or failing to earn a living, experiencing psychological trauma, suffering physical and mental injuries, and experiencing various stigma because of physical condition. However, he expressed hope that the presence of the state could encourage the victims to continue living and looking up to the future.

The State, the President said, is responsible for being present to provide protection, enforcement of human rights, and recovery to victims of crime, including victims of criminal acts of terrorism.

The Government, the President added, has attempted to provide recovery to the victims in various ways. “Since 2018, efforts to provide recovery to the victims have been made through the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) in the forms of providing compensation, medical assistance and psychological services, as well as psychosocial rehabilitation,” he said.

President Jokowi stated that the Government has strengthened its commitment to provide recovery to the victims of past terrorist by issuing Government Regulation Number 35 of 2020. The regulation states that victims of past terrorist crimes are entitled to compensation. “Compensation can be submitted by victims of criminal acts of terrorism, their families, their heirs, or their proxies to LPSK,” he said.

Previously, the State has also paid compensation of Rp8.2 billion to victims of terrorism, the implementation of which was attached to court decisions. The compensation was given to the victims of the 2016 bombing of the Oikumene Church in Samarinda City, the 2016 Thamrin bombing, the 2017 North Sumatra Police attack, the 2017 Kampung Melayu bombing, the 2019 terror attack in Sibolga, North Sumatra, and others. (DND/UN) (FI/MUR)