In our opinion, the 'KKB' represents those belonging to the Papua National Liberation Army (TPN-OPM) and those synergizing with Benny Wenda-led United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP)
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The government’s decision to declare armed Papuan groups, or “KKB”, as "terrorists" entails comprehensive legal sanctions under the Terrorism Law not only against individuals, but also organizations and corporations, the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) has said.



"In our opinion, the 'KKB' represents those belonging to the Papua National Liberation Army (TPN-OPM) and those synergizing with Benny Wenda-led United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP)," the agency's chief, Coms.Gen.Boy Rafli Amar, said.


The Papuan terrorist groups are using local organizations to reach their goals,.Amar told members of the House of Representatives' Commission III overseeing legal affairs at a hearing session here on Thursday.

The provisions of Law Number 5 of 2018 on Terrorism allow the authorities to track down the funding sources of Papuan separatist terrorist groups, which enable them to purchase firearms and ammunition, he informed.



Efforts to trace and block the funding sources of terrorist groups operating in Papua and West Papua could be made by enforcing Law No. 9/2013 on Prevention and Eradication of Anti-Terrorist Financing, he added.



Five days after the fatal shooting of senior intelligence official, Maj. Gen. I Gusti Putu Danny Karya Nugraha, the Indonesian government had formally declared armed Papuan groups as “terrorists”.



The decision was announced by Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Mahfud MD, at an online press conference in Jakarta on April 29, 2021.



In declaring the armed groups as "terrorists", the government has referred to the provisions of Law Number 5 of 2018 on Amendments to Law Number 15 of 2003 on Stipulation of Government Regulations in Lieu of Law Number 1 of 2002 on the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Terrorism.



The law defines terrorists as people who plan, instigate, and organize terrorism, and terrorism as any act motivated by ideology, politics, or security that involves violence or threats of violence, creates a sense of terror or widespread fear, and causes mass casualties or damage or destruction to vital strategic objects, the environment, and public or international facilities.



"Now, based on the definition stated in Law Number 5 of 2018, acts of the KKB and all the names of its organizations and people affiliated with it are related to terrorism," Mahfud announced.



The Indonesian government's decision is justifiable as it takes cognizance of a string of violent attacks on unarmed civilians by KKB members in districts such as Puncak and Intan Jaya over the past few years, he said.



Earlier on Thursday, the BNPT disclosed that five leaders heading armed terrorist groups operating in Papua and West Papua have been put on its most-wanted list. They are Lekagak Telenggen, Egianus Kogoya, Militer Murib, Germanius Elobo, and Sabinus Waker. (INE)

Related news: Five Papuan separatist leaders put on BNPT most-wanted list

Related news: Papua's security personnel tasked with safeguarding development agenda



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Translator: Imam B, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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