Acid Attack Terror: GREAT Institute Urges Public Not to Immediately Accuse the State
Deputy Coordinator of the Commission for Disappeared Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), Andrie Yunus, was attacked with acid by unknown assailants on Thursday, 12 March 2026 at approximately 23.00 WIB. Andrie sustained 24% burn injuries to his face and underwent eye surgery.
President Prabowo has instructed National Police Chief Listyo Sigit to conduct a thorough, professional and transparent investigation into the attack against the human rights activist.
“I have received direct orders from the President to carry out a thorough, professional and transparent investigation,” said National Police Chief Listyo Sigit during an inspection of mudik traffic flows at Gubeng Station in Surabaya on Sunday, 15 March.
Executive Director of GREAT Institute Sudarto has urged the National Police to conduct a swift investigation, emphasising it is a direct presidential order.
“Several Cabinet members, including Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai, have condemned the incident. Deputy Human Rights Minister Mugiyanto stated that terror attacks against human rights activists could undermine Indonesia’s position as President of the UN Human Rights Council,” Sudarto said.
Sudarto emphasised that the investigation aims not only to uphold the rights of the victim, an activist guaranteed constitutional freedoms to express aspirations freely, but also to restore public confidence in the government. Social media narratives have circulated accusing state involvement in the terror attack.
GREAT Institute has called on all members of the public, particularly those who oppose the Prabowo administration’s policies, to remain calm and refrain from directly accusing the state of involvement in this case.
Several other officials have condemned the attack. One statement noted that the acid attack represents a form of brutal intimidation threatening civil liberties in Indonesia. The attack is believed to have been premeditated, similar to an earlier incident involving former KPK investigator Novel Baswedan.
Democracy requires all parties to uphold mutual respect, including when disagreements arise.