Andrie KontraS Incident Assessed as Attack on Human Rights Defender
The Indonesian National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) has condemned an acid attack against Andrie Yunus, Deputy Coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS). Komnas HAM Chairperson Anis Hidayah stated that the attack constitutes a violation of the right to safety guaranteed by the 1945 Constitution and the Human Rights Law.
“Andrie Yunus’s activities as a member of KontraS and the Democracy Advocacy Team (TAUD), actively taking a critical stance in human rights advocacy work, make it strongly suspected that the attack he received is part of an attack aimed at human rights defenders,” Anis said on Friday, 13 March 2026.
Anis stated that Komnas HAM directly visited the victim’s family accompanying Andrie at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM) in Central Jakarta. “Komnas HAM seriously urges the police to conduct the investigation and prosecution process independently, swiftly, transparently, and accountably in handling this case,” Anis said.
Andrie Yunus was sprayed with acid by two unknown individuals whilst on Jalan Salemba I-Talang in Central Jakarta on Thursday, 12 March 2026 at approximately 23:00 WIB. Prior to the acid attack, Andrie had just recorded a podcast titled “Remilitarisation and Judicial Review in Indonesia” at the Legal Aid Foundation Office (YLBHI) in Central Jakarta before heading home. He briefly stopped at a petrol station in the Cikini area of Central Jakarta.
Afterwards, two unidentified individuals on a motorbike sprayed acid onto Andrie’s body. He sustained burns covering approximately 24 per cent of his body, particularly on his right and left hands, face, chest, and eyes.
As a result of this incident, Komnas HAM has requested that the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) provide protection access to the victim and parties related to the attack. Komnas HAM is also pushing for recovery assistance for the victim, both physically and psychologically.
KontraS Coordinator Dimas Bagus Arya stated that the perpetrators’ identities remain unknown. He described how, when sprayed with acid, Andrie collapsed onto the road. “The victim immediately screamed in pain whilst dropping his motorcycle,” said Dimas on Friday, 13 March 2026.
He stated the incident occurred after Andrie refuelled at a petrol station in the Cikini area. Upon continuing his journey, Andrie, who was riding a motorcycle, passed two individuals, believed to be male, riding an automatic motorcycle. The two individuals then sprayed acid in Andrie’s direction.
After spraying the acid, the perpetrators dropped a stainless steel glass whilst attempting to flee. The suspects are believed to have fled towards Jalan Salemba Raya in Central Jakarta. At the time this article was written, Andrie Yunus was still receiving treatment at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM) in Jakarta.