Andrie Yunus, Human Rights Activist, Victim of Acid Attack in Salemba; Police Hunt Perpetrator
The Metro Jaya Police together with Central Jakarta Metro Police are investigating an alleged corrosive acid attack on Andrie Yunus, 27, Deputy Coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS). The incident occurred in the Salemba I Road area, Senen, Central Jakarta, on Friday, 13 March.
Budi Hermanto, Head of Public Relations for Metro Jaya Police, stated that law enforcement is conducting intensive investigation to reveal the motive and identity of the perpetrator. “We can confirm the incident involving an alleged caustic liquid attack on a victim in the Salemba area. The police are currently conducting a comprehensive investigation to identify the perpetrator and the motive behind the incident,” Budi stated on Friday, 13 March.
Budi explained that the incident began when the victim was riding a motorcycle at the location. Suddenly, an unknown individual appeared from the front and sprayed corrosive liquid directly at the victim, causing him to fall from his motorcycle.
Whilst injured, the victim managed to contact his colleague, RFA, 30, for assistance. The victim was then immediately transported to the Emergency Department of Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM) for emergency treatment.
As a result of the attack, Andrie sustained serious burn injuries to multiple parts of his body, including both hands, face, chest, and right eye. As of the time of this report, the victim remains under intensive care at RSCM.
Budi emphasised that police are giving serious attention to the case affecting this human rights activist. He assured that the legal process will be conducted professionally. “We prioritise the victim’s safety and will follow up on all information and evidence available. We also urge members of the public who witnessed this incident or have relevant information to immediately report it to the nearest police station,” he stated.
Earlier, KontraS Coordinator Dimas Bagus Arya urged police to thoroughly investigate the perpetrator of the acid attack on KontraS Deputy Coordinator Andrie Yunus. The attack by an unknown individual was viewed as a serious threat to human rights defenders in Indonesia.
Dimas explained that the incident occurred shortly after Andrie Yunus finished recording a podcast at the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI). The podcast addressed the theme of Remilitarisation and Judicial Review in Indonesia and ended around 11:00 PM. “KontraS Deputy Coordinator Andrie Yunus has been attacked with corrosive acid by an unknown person, resulting in serious injuries across his body,” Dimas said.
The National Police Commission (Kompolnas) strongly condemned the acid attack on KontraS Deputy Coordinator Andrie Yunus in the Salemba area of Central Jakarta on Friday, 13 March.
KontraS considered the acid attack to be an attempt to silence critical civil society voices, particularly human rights defenders. “We view this action as an attempt to silence critical voices within society, particularly human rights defenders,” Dimas stated. Medical examination revealed that Andrie Yunus sustained burn injuries of approximately 24 per cent.