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Indonesia declares Papuan rebels terrorists
The Indonesian government announced an updated list of terror groups on Thursday, with the notable addition of armed criminal groups (KKB) in Papua, following the death of a regional intelligence chief in this week.
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The Indonesian government announced an updated list of terror groups on Thursday, with the notable addition of armed criminal groups (KKB) in Papua, following the death of a regional intelligence chief in a confrontation with members of a fragmented separatist movement earlier this week. (JP/Hengky Wijaya)
T
he government has declared that armed criminal groups (KKB) in Papua are terrorists, following a string of clashes with security forces that saw the region's intelligence chief, one police officer and at least nine guerrilla fighters killed.
Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD announced the updated list of terror groups amid heightened tensions in Indonesia’s easternmost province, which has been the site of decades of guerilla warfare pitting separatist groups against local security forces.
"The government has deemed that organizations and people in Papua who commit mass violence are categorized as terrorists [...] This is in line with Law No. 8/2018," Mahfud said during a press briefing on Thursday.
The Counterterrorism Law defines terrorism as the use of violence or threats of violence that could prompt widespread terror or fear, cause mass casualties or disrupt or damage vital strategic objects, the environment, public facilities or international facilities, using ideology, politics or the disruption of security as motives.
The addition of “disruption of security” in the law’s wording has been construed to allow the Indonesian Military (TNI) to play a greater role in counterterrorism efforts.
Mahfud said the decision to add KKB to the list was made after receiving input from the speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), the State Intelligence Agency (BIN), the National Police chief, the TNI commander, figures from regional administrations and legislatures, local public figures and grassroots leaders.
They all appealed in one way or another, he said, for the state to take action against "the mass brutal killings and violence".
