Acid Attack on Andrie Yunus Deemed to Threaten Indonesian Democracy

Jakarta — Indonesia’s National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) is pressing for a thorough investigation into the acid attack against Andrie Yunus, Vice Coordinator of the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS).

The acid attack on the activist is viewed as threatening Indonesian democracy if not handled properly, according to Komnas HAM officials.

“The danger here is that if this is left unaddressed, our democracy will be threatened. That is the most fundamental right issue we see in this incident,” said Komnas HAM member Prabianto Mukti Wibowo at a press conference at Komnas HAM headquarters in Jakarta on Tuesday, 17 March 2026.

Prabianto stated firmly that the acid attack violates the democratic pillars enshrined in the 1945 Constitution.

“What I see is a violation of freedom of expression, association, and so forth,” said Prabianto.

Commission III chairman Habiburokhman stressed that the acid attack on Andrie Yunus should not be viewed as an ordinary criminal act.

“This is a serious matter. We are calling on the police to immediately identify the perpetrators, including those who planned it and the intellectual architects behind this incident,” said Habiburokhman at the Parliament complex in Jakarta on Monday, 16 March 2026.

He emphasised that the case must not end with the arrest of the perpetrators but must extend to the intellectual authors who ordered it.

“Commission III of the House of Representatives is calling on the police to conduct a thorough, swift, transparent and professional investigation into the acid attack on Andrie Yunus and promptly identify and arrest all those involved—whether they planned, ordered, carried out or assisted in the act—in accordance with applicable law,” said Habiburokhman.

Furthermore, he stated that the terror attack constitutes a form of resistance against the commitment of President Prabowo Subianto’s administration.

“Commission III of the House of Representatives affirms that the acid attack on Andrie Yunus is a form of resistance against President Prabowo’s government commitment to maximise the protection, advancement and fulfilment of human rights in support of the legislative functions mandated to the House of Representatives as set out in the Asta Cita,” said Habiburokhman.