BIN Considers The KKB In Papua Equal To Terrorist Organizations, It Must Be Dealt With

JAKARTA - Deputy VII of the Intelligence Agency, Wawan Purwanto, emphasized that the armed criminal groups (KKB) in Papua, including the Free Papua Organization (OPM), are aligned with terrorist organizations.

This was conveyed in response to the statement made by the Head of the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) Komjen Boy Rafli Amar during a meeting at the DPR on Monday, March 22. At that time, Boy Rafli said, his party was considering the OPM's entry into a terrorism organization.

"KKB is basically equal to a terrorist organization which is a common enemy and must be dealt with firmly," said Wawan in a written statement to reporters, Tuesday, March 23.

Wawan said that the crimes committed by the KKB have been parallel to acts of terrorism and in accordance with Article 1 paragraph 2 of Law Number 5 of 2018 concerning Amendments to Law Number 15 of 2003 concerning Stipulation of Government Regulations in Lieu of Law No.1 of 2002 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts of Terrorism into Law .

"Terrorism is an act that uses violence or threats of violence that create an atmosphere of terror or widespread fear that can cause mass victims," he said.

In addition, if you look at the existing conditions, it is clear that this group often makes threats and carries out acts of violence against the public and security forces. The threat with this firearm, continued Wawan, often causes casualties and causes property loss.

“Apart from that, KKB also often intimidates local government officials and forces them to support their actions. The acts of violence carried out by the KKB have caused widespread fear in the community, ”he stressed.

So, it is fitting for the KKB to fall into the category of acts of terrorism. Wawan also assessed that this consideration had also been conveyed by a number of parties.

"Of course, this cannot be separated from the facts about the actions that the KKB has done so far," said Wawan.

In a joint meeting with Commission III DPR, BNPT plans to propose KKB in Papua and OPM as terrorism organizations.

"We initiated discussions with ministries / agencies regarding the KKB nomenclature," said Head of BNPT, Komjen Boy Rafli, Monday, March 22.

The plan is that this discussion will also be held together with Komnas HAM and representatives in the DPR to discuss the opportunity to establish the KKB in Papua and the National Liberation Army (TPN) and OPM as terrorist organizations.

"We want to see this opportunity, then give advice to the President (Joko Widodo) why not the OPM, TPN, KKB, which have claimed the lives of state officials and civil society, are categorized as banned organizations," said Boy Rafli during the meeting.

Discussions and efforts to discuss this issue need to be carried out in order to obtain an objective understanding of armed criminal groups and separatist organizations in Papua.

Therefore, BNPT will open opportunities for discussion related to this issue with other parties. Because, the determination of KKB, OPM, or other groups as terrorist organizations cannot be carried out only by BNPT.