Acid Attack Case on Andrie Yunus in Spotlight, Coalition Urges General Court to Uncover Main Mastermind

Jakarta, VIVA – The Civil Society Coalition for Security Sector Reform has strongly condemned the acid attack on human rights defender Andrie Yunus, which is alleged to have been carried out by four TNI members. This incident is regarded as a serious act of violence that not only harms the victim but also threatens the principles of democracy, the rule of law, and human rights protection in Indonesia. In its statement, the coalition emphasised that this case must be processed through the general judicial system, not the military court. This step is considered crucial to ensure transparency and accountability in law enforcement, given that the military court has often been criticised for its lack of openness in handling criminal cases involving security personnel. The coalition also highlighted the potential involvement of intellectual actors behind the act. They assessed that if the case is only resolved in the military court, the handling is likely to stop at the field perpetrators, without uncovering parties suspected of being in the higher command chain. “This case must not stop at the direct perpetrators. It must be traced to those who planned or ordered it,” stated the coalition in its declaration. Furthermore, the coalition called for the highest leaders in the relevant institutions, including the Head of BAIS, the TNI Commander, and the Defence Minister, to take moral and institutional responsibility. They are seen as having an important role in ensuring that this case is thoroughly investigated. The coalition also urged Komnas HAM to immediately conduct an in-depth investigation. Based on initial indications, this act of violence is suspected to have been carried out in a structured and systematic manner. Additionally, the victim’s background as a human rights activist involved in advocating for the revision of the TNI Law since 2025 is a key focus in uncovering the motive. Not only that, this incident is also linked to a series of violence during the riots at the end of August 2025. Therefore, an evaluation of the relevant institutions is deemed necessary, including the positions of leaders considered to have failed in controlling their members. The coalition also encouraged the formation of an independent fact-finding team to ensure the accuracy of circulating information. They requested that the President take concrete steps by forming a joint team, and asked Komnas HAM to establish a similar team to strengthen the investigative process.