Analyst Urges Police to Thoroughly Investigate Acid Attack Case on KontraS Activist: Perpetrators and Masterminds Must Be Arrested
Senior political analyst Boni Hargens has urged the Indonesian National Police (Polri) to thoroughly investigate the acid attack case that befell KontraS activist Andrie Yunus. He emphasised that the disclosure of this case must not stop at the field perpetrators but must target the intellectual actors or masterminds behind the attack.
Boni assessed this incident as a serious threat to Indonesia’s democratic ecosystem. According to him, attacks on human rights defenders are systematic efforts to silence critical voices, making comprehensive law enforcement an absolute necessity for the state’s credibility.
“Attacks on human rights activists are not merely ordinary criminal acts; they represent a direct threat to democratic freedoms. This case must be thoroughly uncovered so that activists can resume their duties without fear,” Boni stated in a written statement on Wednesday (18/3/2026).
Boni appreciated the steps taken by the National Police Chief, General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, in establishing a special complaint post for the public with information related to the case. This initiative is seen as a vital instrument to accelerate the investigation and build a comprehensive case structure.
“With the opening of a structured complaint channel, the investigation process is expected to move more quickly and efficiently. Information from the public is valuable guidance for investigators in tracing the tracks of the perpetrators and their masterminds,” he added.
Furthermore, Boni described public involvement through the post as a concrete manifestation of community policing. This demonstrates Polri’s commitment to conducting legal processes openly and accountably, while involving the public as an active partner in safeguarding democracy.
The “Precision” principle championed by the National Police Chief, according to Boni, serves as a guarantee that Polri will work professionally and humanely in resolving this case. He believes that the track record of reforms within Polri will ensure that no party is immune from the law in cases of violence against activists.
“Protection for activists is protection for democracy itself. Our hope is that the perpetrators and their masterminds are tried fairly. That is the promise of democracy that the state must fulfil through its police institution,” he said.
It is known that the acid attack case against KontraS activist Andrie Yunus is beginning to show signs of progress. Four suspected perpetrators, who are TNI members, have now been secured and are undergoing examination at the TNI Military Police Centre (Puspom) TNI.
The Commander of Puspom TNI, Yusri Nuryanto, revealed that the four suspected suspects are initialled NDP, SL, BHW, and ES. They have been handed over and immediately processed for further deepening. “There are four suspected suspects, initialled NDP, SL, BHW, and ES,” Yusri said during a press conference on Wednesday (18/3).
He detailed that NDP holds the rank of Captain, while SL and BHW hold the rank of First Lieutenant (Lettu), and ES holds the rank of Second Lieutenant (Lerda). All are now under Puspom TNI’s handling to fully uncover the motive behind the acid attack. “The motivation is still being deepened further, because the suspects were only handed over this morning,” he stated.