Indonesia Hands Rp 39.2T in Compensation Fund for Victims of Terrorism

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo has allocated Rp 39,205,000,000 for victims of terrorism in Indonesia.

The state fund for terror attack victims has been prioritized for 215 victims and the heirs of victims of 40 terrorist acts in the country.

“This is a sign of the state’s care and responsibility for the victims who have waited patiently for decades.”

Despite the state funds for those victims of terrorism in Indonesia, the Indonesian President asserted that the money does not compare to the suffering endured by the victims.

Read also: Jokowi Strongly Condemns Terror Attack in Central Sulawesi

For decades, terror attack victims in Indonesia have seen a significant drop in their economic welfare as a result of losing their jobs or being completely unable to earn a living.

The Indonesian President also highlighted the physical and mental wounds from the attacks and in particular, the stigma that arises due to their physical condition.

“The state is here for the victims and we hope that it [the fund] will give you motivation and moral support to overcome this difficult situation as a result of terrorism.”

“We hope that the terror attack victims in Indonesia can move on with their lives and look towards the future with optimism.”

Read also: Jokowi: Indonesia Dedicated to Respecting Human Rights, Religious Freedom

Jokowi explained that the recovery of victims of terrorism in Indonesia, including victims of gross human rights violations and terrorist acts, is the responsibility of the government to handle.

The Indonesian President stated that the government has been persistent in aiding victims of terrorism as evidenced by the establishment of the Witness and Victim Protection Agency in 2018.

Among the services extended through the agency are compensation, medical assistance, psychological treatment, and psychosocial rehabilitation.

Further indications of the government’s assertion in helping terror attack victims in Indonesia is via the Government Law Number 35 Year 2020.

The law stipulates that victims of previous acts of terrorism in Indonesia are subject to receive compensation.