Considering The CLA Into The Terrorism Organization Group

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JAKARTA - The head of the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) Komjen Boy Rafli Amar is considering including the armed criminal group (KKB) in Papua including the Free Papua Organization (OPM) into a terrorist organization group. A number of parties responded to this matter, including the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) and KontraS.

Deputy VII Intelligence Agency Wawan Purwanto emphasized that the armed criminal groups (KKB) in Papua, including the Free Papua Organization (OPM), are equal to 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," he said.

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.

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.

BNPT don't be careless

Komnas HAM's Deputy Head of External Affairs, Amiruddin Al-Rahab, warned not to be reckless to put the KKB into the category of a terrorist group. BNPT, he said, must see and assess conditions in Papua as a whole.

"I don't think you are careless in seeing and assessing the conditions in Papua," Amiruddin told reporters, Tuesday, March 23.

The problems in Papua, he continued, must be taken seriously because they have caused many casualties.

According to him, now what is needed is an in-depth and precise study. This is more important so that conflict resolution in Papua can be achieved quickly.

"A deeper and serious study must be carried out. Communication spaces must be opened by involving many parties, ”he emphasized.

"So don't get too emotional," he added.

Meanwhile, the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS) assessed that the KKB could indeed be included in the terrorism group if you look at the Terrorism Law.

However, this can also happen to other groups because the definition of terrorism in the law is too broad and this has been criticized by his party from the start.

"If it is said whether it is possible or not, if we look at the definition of the Terrorism Law it is possible," he said.

This time, he continued, it could be that only the KKB, including the OPM, were included in the category of a terrorist organization. However, in the future, this incident could happen to other groups.

"This time it may be OPM, but we do not know that in the future, community groups that criticize the government or community groups who commit violence, whether based on religion or socio-politics, can also be said to be terrorist organizations," he said.

Moreover, he considered, not all who joined the OPM movement used armed force. Thus, this raises additional questions.

"If the OPM movement does not use armed force, will it be called terrorism as well? Considering that the OPM movement has several affiliations, "he said.

In addition, the government must also remember the obligation of reparation to victims and perpetrators if it is to include KKB as a terrorist organization group.

"So the question is also because so far the status of Papua with the involvement of the TNI / Polri in Papua is not clear, whether including OPM as terrorism is an attempt by the government to legalize operations that have actually been carried out by the Government by involving the TNI / Polri in Papua, "He concluded.