The Treatment of the Bombing Victims in Kampung Melayu Must Be Heightened

The punctual treatment of the bombing victims in Kampung Melayu needs to be appreciated. The emergency medical services do require acceleration and coordination from all of the parties. However, the government and relevant agencies must provide post-emergency medical services consistently, including compensation for the victims.

Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR) condemned the bombing in Kampung Melayu on the evening of 24 May 2017. The bombing has caused casualties and victims suffering from serious injuries. ICJR also extended our deepest condolences to the deceased ones and their families, and our symphaties to the injured victims. ICJR appreciates the punctual treatment of the bombing victims in Kampung Melayu, including the emergency response carried out by the Security Apparatus and the medical units at various hospitals in Jakarta that were prepared to assist the bombing victims.

Emergency Medical Services indeed must be accelerated to minimize the risk of death, and it requires a very intense coordination between the parties to provide special services for the emergency medical response to the victims.

ICJR noticed the pace of the Police reaction in bearing the cost of the victims’ expenditures. The government has the responsibility to rehabilitate the victims, so it can reduce the victims’s suffering.

However, the Government and the relevant institutions particularly the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) should also be reminded to keep providing the post emergency medical services consistently. Victims need rehabilitation services until the healing stage, including by supporting them with medical, psychological, psychosocial services and restitution or compensation. Do not let the victims’ rights to be ignored after this medical emergency.

The current discussion on the Anti-Terrorism Bill has not provided regulations that strengthen the victims’ rights yet. ICJR reminds the Government and Parliament to not forget the aspect of the victims in the Anti-Terrorism Bill. The prevention aspect and the enforcement of criminal acts of terrorism are important, but ICJR encourages the Government and Parliament to take the victims’ rights under consideration, especially those who have a direct impact on terrorist attacks. One of the fundamental problems is the procedure that is so incriminating the victims, start from the emergency assistance, psychological psychosocial medical services, financial reimbursement for the victims, and restitution or compensation.

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