Victims of terror attacks have expressed disappointment toward the amendment to the Terrorism Law as the amended law does not contain comprehensive provisions about their rights as victims.
Data from the Survivors Foundation (Yayasan Penyintas Indonesia) shows there are currently 1,906 victims of terror attacks suffering physical and mental trauma from a number of bomb attacks over the last 15 years.
Tita from the foundation said none of them had had their rights fulfilled, including the right to compensation, by the state. They only receive material assistance from international NGOs.
"When we learned about the terrorism bill we found it a bit disappointing. It is not concerned with the victims. The legislators and the government only talk about suspects and law enforcement," she said. She said all this time, victims faced difficulties in getting medical access and rehabilitation.
Another victim, Sudarsono Hadi Siswoyo, said the government moved slow in handling victims. Even worse, the government tended to prioritize foreign victims. "We only want recognition and to get easy access to rehabilitation and compensation," he said, adding that they had to wait for a long time to receive recognition from the government and the court.
The chairman of the bill's special committee, Muhammad Syafi'i of the Gerindra Party, admitted that the government was insufficiently concerned with victims in arranging the draft of the bill. "This will be our duty, to make the bill comprehensive and accommodate the needs of victims," Syafi'i said.