BAIS Chief Replaced Over Acid Attack on Activist, YLBHI: Command Chain Must Be Dismantled
TNI headquarters announced the resignation of the Chief of the Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS) TNI, Lieutenant General TNI Yudi Abrimantyo, on Wednesday night (25/3/2026). This was done as an institutional accountability measure in response to the involvement of four BAIS members in the acid attack on Kontras Deputy Coordinator Andrie Yunus.
YLBHI General Chairman Muhammad Isnur assessed that the resignation of the BAIS Chief in this case is not a solution. According to him, such a step cannot be seen as adequate accountability, especially as a response to a serious crime allegedly involving an organised operation by a military intelligence agency.
“The state must dismantle the command chain behind the acid attack on Andrie Yunus and bring the perpetrators to general courts,” he said through his statement confirmed by Republika on Thursday (26/3/2026).
Isnur, who is also part of the Advocacy Team for Democracy (TAUD), assessed that the statement from TNI headquarters also does not touch on the main substance of the acid attack case. Moreover, they found no information on the progress of investigation coordination and steps forward for uncovering and how command accountability and the chain of command in the attempted murder of Andrie Yunus.
“Yet, serious uncovering and justice for the victim is what the public is eagerly awaiting,” he said.
Isnur explained that from TAUD’s investigation results, the perpetrators of the attempted murder of Andrie Yunus are strongly suspected to involve dozens of actors. Even the operation raises various suspicions that need to be investigated, such as the existence of orders, involvement of superiors, and the command structure within the TNI.
Therefore, they question the step of replacing the BAIS Chief if it is intended as a form of accountability. This is because the construction of accountability for human rights violations should not be attached to just one position.
“In the hierarchical military organisational structure, the command chain involves broader layers of leadership than just one person. The absence of explanation regarding command structure accountability creates a strong impression of an attempt to cover up partial, selective accountability that does not touch the entire command chain that should be examined,” he said.