Indonesia Compensates Victims of Terrorism for the First Time
22 December 2017 08:24 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian government has provided compensation for the victims of terrorism for the first time. The beneficiaries are the victims of a bomb attack on a church in Samarinda City on November 13, 2016.
Seven victims received a total of Rp237,871,152 that was handed over by the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) that represented the government.
“LPSK has been mandated, among others, to facilitate the compensation claims from the victims of terrorism…” LPSK deputy chief Lili Pintauli Siregar said on Thursday, Dec. 21.
Earlier, public prosecutors seek compensation of Rp1,479,535,400 for the seven victims of various amounts.
The first victim received Rp128,565,000, the second victim received Rp118,798,000, the third victim received Rp124,170,000, the fourth victim received Rp131,770,000, the fifth victim received Rp305,595,400, the sixth victim received Rp534,137,000, and the seventh victim received Rp136,500,000. The recommendation was read out at the East Jakarta District Court in a trial session of Samarinda church terror attack.
Read: 7 Suspects in Samarinda Church Attack Linked to ISIS
“The ruling covers actual losses suffered by the victims, whereas immaterial damages were not. So, the Rp1.4 billion include immaterial damages whereas Rp237 million is only for the actual losses,” Lili said.
In a trial session held on Sep. 25, the judges handed down a life sentence to defendant Juhanda and ruled that the victims should be compensated, namely Marsyana Tiur, the mother of Alvaro Aurelius Tristan Sinaga at Rp56,357,892, Sarina Gultom, the mother of Trinity Hutahaen at Rp60,191,268; Anggiat M. Banjarnahour, the father of late Intan Olivia Banjarnahour at Rp66,252,000; Jekson Sihotan, the father of Anita Christabel Sihotang at Rp17,155,000; and Dorta Manaek, the mother of victims Misti Nofa Dinara and Elyka Mentieva at Rp19,215,000.
Aside from the families of the victims of the terror attack, the owners of vehicles burned in the incident also received compensation, namely Mesriani Sirait at Rp9,650,000 and Martha Bin at Rp9,050,000.
The compensation is expected to help the victims even though it might not be easy to heal the wounds after the terror attack. “I would like to express my gratitude to the government that has shown its attention to us. The amount itself is not essential,” victim Novita Sagala said.
SAPRI MAULANA
