BNPT Looks into Possibility of Labeling Papuan Armed Group as Terror Network

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) Chief Comr. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar on Monday announced the agency was canvassing the possibility of categorizing the Papuan armed criminal groups (KKB) or the Papua National Liberation Army (TPN-OPM) as a terror network. 

He said that discussions were held to deliberate this issue. “Whether the armed criminal group can be categorized as a terrorist organization,” said the BNPT chief in a hearing with Commission III House legislators on March 22. 

Boy said the crimes committed by the armed criminal group could be considered as terror acts. “Based on the conditions in the field, [what they do] can be categorized as terror acts,” he argues. 

According to Boy, BNPT has discussed the issue with several ministries and institutions, and that it is intent on having a seat with the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) and House lawmakers. 

Based on technical terms, Boy believed the actions conducted by the Papuan criminal group met the technical requirements to be considered as terror acts, thus they could be tried under the anti-terrorism law. 

On the other hand, Amnesty International Indonesia recorded 69 cases of alleged unlawful killings committed by security personnel in Papua and West Papua, which claimed 95 lives. The human rights watchdog also said only six of the entire 45 cases that went through internal police accountability were announced to the public. Sixty nine of these cases, which happened in Papua, were never brought to the civilian court. 

Read: Papua Police to Take Welfare Approach in Areas Prone to Armed Criminal Group

BUDIARTI UTAMI PUTRI | EGI ADYATAMA