Activist Attacked with Caustic Liquid; Habiburokhman: Disagreement Cannot Be Responded to with Thuggery

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com — The Chair of Commission III of the House of Representatives Habiburokhman has stressed that all forms of disagreement expressed by citizens cannot be responded to with thuggery.

Habiburokhman made this statement in response to the caustic liquid attack against KontraS activist Andrie Yunus.

“We cannot tolerate any form of violence against citizens. Whatever form of disagreement should not be responded to with violence and thuggery,” said Habiburokhman in a statement issued on Monday, 16 March 2026.

“Article 28G of the 1945 Constitution clearly stipulates that every person has the right to protection of their personal self, as well as the right to security and protection from threats and fear to do or not to do something which constitutes a human right,” he added.

Habiburokhman also requested that Andrie Yunus receive maximum personal security.

“So that he is truly safe from threats of further violence,” Habiburokhman said.

Habiburokhman assured that Commission III of the House of Representatives would continue to monitor this case to ensure the investigation proceeds swiftly and professionally.

“We ask that the state fully cover the costs of the best medical treatment so that he can recover quickly,” added the Gerindra politician.

Andrie Yunus, Deputy Coordinator of the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS), was attacked with caustic liquid by an unknown assailant in Central Jakarta.

Dimas Bagus Arya, Coordinator of the Working Board of KontraS, stated that the attack resulted in Andrie sustaining injuries to several parts of his body.

“Particularly on the right and left hands, face, chest, and eye area,” Dimas told Kompas.com on Friday, 13 March 2026.

From medical examination results, he was found to have suffered burns covering approximately 24 per cent of his body.

Dimas explained that the caustic liquid attack occurred shortly after Andrie completed recording a podcast titled “Remilitarisation and Judicial Review in Indonesia” held at the office of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) in Jakarta.

“The incident occurred shortly after Andrie Yunus finished recording a podcast at the office of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) titled ‘Remilitarisation and Judicial Review in Indonesia’ which concluded at approximately 23:00 Western Indonesian Time,” Dimas explained.