RI steps up efforts to protect foreigners, victims of terror

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) and the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) are strengthening efforts to ensure foreign nationals affected by terrorist attacks in Indonesia receive their rights.

BNPT Director of Victim Recovery Coordination Suroyo stressed the importance of continued coordination among BNPT, LPSK, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and foreign diplomatic missions.

"Shared understanding of the requirements, procedures and application mechanisms is essential to ensuring victims' rights are fulfilled effectively and in accordance with applicable regulations," Suroyo said in a statement confirmed in Jakarta on Wednesday (Nov 4).

He said continued interagency communication would help ensure victims receive the necessary information and that their applications are processed in accordance with regulations.

Suroyo said the state's responsibility to uphold the rights of terrorism victims and support their recovery also extends to foreign nationals attacked in Indonesia.

To make those rights accessible, BNPT and LPSK held an outreach session in Jakarta on October 30 for representatives of 24 foreign diplomatic missions.

The event, titled "Dissemination of Information on the Rights of Victims of Terrorist Acts That Occurred in Indonesia (2002–2018)," aimed to reach victims of past terrorist attacks, particularly foreign nationals who were unaware of available recovery assistance.

BNPT and LPSK explained Constitutional Court Decision No. 103/PUU-XXI/2023, which extended the deadline for applications for assistance by victims of past terrorist attacks.

The session also covered procedures for obtaining a Terrorism Victim Status Determination Letter and applying for recovery services for victims of attacks in Indonesia between 2002 and 2018.

BNPT Deputy for International Cooperation Dionisius Elvan Swasono said diplomatic missions play a strategic role in connecting the Indonesian government with its nationals affected by terrorist attacks in Indonesia.

He said diplomatic missions were essential to ensuring that information about application procedures and recovery assistance reached victims and their families, especially those who had not received adequate information.

He expressed hope the session would give diplomatic representatives a comprehensive understanding of how to apply for obtaining a Letter of Determination as a Victim of Terrorism and accessing recovery services.

"We also hope this information can be shared with relevant authorities and their nationals who were victims, particularly those unaware of the procedures and extended application deadline," Dionisius said.

He added that stronger communication with partner countries was important because efforts to identify and reach foreign nationals affected by terrorist attacks in Indonesia still needed improvement.

Support from diplomatic missions could help identify and reach victims and their families who had not received information about their rights.

LPSK Vice Chair Susilaningtias said BNPT and LPSK would continue working with the Foreign Ministry and other stakeholders to publicize the extended application period for victims of past terrorist attacks.

She said the effort also targeted foreign nationals affected by terrorist attacks in Indonesia and had yet to receive recovery assistance from either their home countries or the Indonesian government.

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Translator: Agatha OV, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Bayu Prasetyo
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