Keisyah Aprilia/BenarNews
Villagers are urging Indonesia’s leader to visit the restive Poso region in Central Sulawesi province as a sign of his commitment to resolving security problems there after pro-Islamic State militants killed four farmers in the latest violence there last week.
More than a dozen people representing residents of Lore Bersaudara, a district of Poso regency, submitted an open letter to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Monday through the local legislative council.
Their letter expressed frustration at the authorities’ failure to root out the Eastern Indonesia Mujahideen (MIT), a pro-Islamic State militant group which government officials have blamed for two large deadly attacks in a six-month span, but which is said to number less than a dozen fighters.
LPSK offers protection for witnesses in killing of six FPI members 9th January 2021
Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK s) deputy chief Edwin Partogi. ANTARA/HO-Humas LPSK/pri. Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia s Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) is offering protection to witnesses who saw or knew about the December 7, 2020 fatal shootings of six members of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI). LPSK is ready to help uncover information in the case by protecting several key witnesses, to enable them to convey significant accounts about the incident, which has attracted public attention, according to the agency s deputy chief, Edwin Partogi Pasaribu.
The agency has received a proposal for protecting six witnesses, and its personnel continue to review the proposal, he said, adding that there were likely several more witnesses who might have important information.
Compensation helps heal wounds of Indonesian bombing victims
Cash awards are not comparable to their suffering but have boosted their spirit
The Sarinah commercial center in Jakarta in 2016 after a suicide bombing killed seven people including five terrorists. (Photo: Siktus Harson/UCA News)
After waiting for 17 years, Tony Soemarno, one of the victims of the JW Marriott Hotel bombing in Jakarta in 2003, has finally received compensation from the Indonesian government.
Soemarno, 66, and 16 other victims symbolically received compensation from President Joko Widodo at the presidential palace on Dec. 16.
He is one of 215 victims of 40 terrorist attacks who will receive a total of about 39.2 billion rupiah (US$2.8 million) from the Indonesian government.
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has reiterated that the responsibility of reparations for the victims of past gross human rights violations, including acts of terrorism, is in the hands of the government. He also stressed the government’s commitment to uphold the rights of all citizens during a public ceremony on Wednesday to hand over compensation to terror victims.
“The reparation to victims of crimes, including the victims of gross human rights violations and acts of terror, is part of the state’s responsibility to be present to provide protection and uphold the victims’ rights,” Jokowi said in the ceremony on Dec. 16 at the State Palace, which was livestreamed on the Sekretariat Presiden YouTube channel.