STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT. National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) Official Ahmad Nurwakhid on Thursday said five Indonesian citizens who became financial facilitators of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) used charity boxes from the people and member contributions to send money to ISIS.
Ahmad said the agency BNPT had deployed a Task Force for Handling Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTF) to monitor the whereabouts of three Indonesian citizens. He said the task force always coordinates with relevant stakeholders, including the Densus 88 Anti-Terrorism squad as the executor, the National Police, the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) for funding, and the Politics, Law, and Security Coordinating Ministry.
President Jokowi on Monday officially signed Law No. 12 of 2022 on sexual violence (locally known as “UU TPKS”), after House of Representatives (DPR) passed the bill on Apr. 12. The law seeks to prevent all forms of sexual violence, as well as assist, protect, and help the recovery of victims.
On 12 April 2022, the Indonesian Parliament (DPR) passed a law against sexual violence, representing a major victory for the ‘civil society opposition’, or the ‘social opposition’. The successful passage of the law was helped by a unified campaign and the fact that it did not threaten any entrenched economic interests.
The Law About the Elimination of Sexual Violence (UU TPKS.) introduces important protections for victims of sexual violence. The philosophical bias of the law is summed up in its statement regarding the rights of victims: a) the right to have their case processed; b) the right to protection; and c) the right to restitution and recovery (Article 67).
The law includes sexual violence not yet in other laws, including: physical and non-physical sexual abuse, forced contraception, forced sterilisation, forced marriage, sexual torture, sexual exploitation, sexual slavery, and online sexual violence (Article 4). Rape and forced abortion are already criminalised under the existing criminal code. It is also made clear that sexual abuse can take place within the household.
The new law, among other things, also strengthens the rights of victims within the legal processes. Victims are required to be assisted by a variety of experts in court, and the definition of acceptable documentary evidence has been expanded.
National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) Commissioner Beka Ulung Hapsari on Wednesday said the criticism against LGBT-related content on Deddy Corbuzier’s podcast was reasonable and should be respected in a democracy.
Beka said honoring the freedom of opinion is equivalent to recognizing the freedom of expression, such as respecting other people’s sexual orientation. However, Beka said criticism and disagreement must be expressed in a polite manner, and that there should be no discrimination based on sexual orientation, ethnicity, race, or religion.
