Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia during the Handover of Compensation for Victims of Past Terrorist Acts, at the State Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday, 16 December 2020

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

Good afternoon,

Peace and prosperity be upon us,

Om Swastiastu,

Namo Buddhaya,

Greetings of virtue.

Distinguished Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Cabinet Secretary,

Honorable Head of the National Counterterrorism Agency,

Honorable Chairperson and Leaders of the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK);

Honorable representatives of compensation recipients;

Esteeemed Guests.

Facilitating recovery for victims of crime, including those of gross human rights violations and terrorist crimes is the responsibility of the state to be present to provide protection and enforcement of human rights to victims. Since 2018, efforts to provide recovery to the victims have been made through the LPSK in the forms of providing compensation, medical assistance and psychological services, as well as psychosocial rehabilitation.

The Government further strengthens its commitment to provide recovery to the victims of past terrorist acts 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 the LPSK.

Esteemed Guests,

Today, Chairman of the LPSK stated that the payment of compensation of Rp39.205 billion directly to 215 victims and the heirs of victims who have died and who have been identified from 40 past terrorist incidents constitutes a form of state concern and responsibility to the victims who have been waiting for a dozen years. Previously, the State has also paid compensation to victims of terrorism, the implementation of which was attached to court decisions.  For example, the Chairperson of the LPSK has also mentioned, 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.

Honorable invitees,

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. 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.

This concludes my remarks on this auspicious occasion.

Thank you,

Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

Om Santi Santi Santi Om,

Namo Buddhaya.

Translated by Fairuzzamani Inayatillah
Reviewed by Muhardi