Calls to Thoroughly Investigate Andrie Acid Attack Case Intensify After Kabais Resignation
Calls to thoroughly investigate the acid attack case on Andrie intensify after Kabais resignation
KontraS activist Andrie Yunus became the victim of an acid splashing by two unidentified individuals on Jalan Salemba 1, Central Jakarta, on Thursday night (12/3).
The attack occurred after Andrie attended a podcast event themed “Remilitarism and Judicial Review in Indonesia” at the office of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI).
In the latest development, the Head of the TNI Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS), Lieutenant General Yudi Abrimantyo, has officially submitted his resignation as a form of accountability.
Metro Jaya Police estimate that more than four people were involved in the acid splashing. Meanwhile, TNI Headquarters claims to have detained four soldiers from BAIS who are alleged to be connected to the acid attack.
The investigation is still ongoing. However, the push to probe this case continues to grow stronger. CNNIndonesia.com has compiled various reactions regarding the developments in this case following the Kabais resignation.
Ministry of Human Rights calls for TNI-Polri coordination
The Director General of Human Rights Services and Compliance at the Ministry of Human Rights, Munafrizal Manan, stated that differences in investigations between TNI and Police would create complexity and legal complications.
His side does not want duality and competition to occur in handling this case.
“The potential for legal complications and complexity, especially regarding the absolute competence of which court will examine and decide this case. To mitigate this potential, TNI and Police need to immediately coordinate and synchronise,” Munafrizal said in a written statement on Thursday (26/3).
Munafrizal assessed that this situation would create a legal anomaly. This is because if one law enforcement agency already has witnesses and evidence but has not yet named suspects, while on the other side there is another law enforcement agency that already has people suspected as perpetrators but still lacks or has minimal witnesses and evidence.
If there are differences in views in the investigation, the case can be resolved through the judicial authority dispute mechanism at the Supreme Court (MA).
Calls to uncover the chain of command
The Advocacy Team for Democracy (TAUD) urges that the chain of command ordering the acid splashing on Andrie Yunus be immediately revealed.
KontraS Coordinator, Dima Bagus Arya, stated that the Kabais resignation cannot be seen as a form of accountability for the serious crime allegedly involving an organised operation by a military intelligence agency.
“This large-scale operation raises various suspicions that need to be investigated, such as orders, involvement of superiors, and the command structure within the TNI,” Bagus said in a written statement on Thursday (26/3).
Dimas emphasised that accountability for this case should not be attached to just one position. Because the chain of command involves broader layers of leadership than just one person.
“The absence of explanation regarding the accountability of the command structure in question creates a strong impression of an attempt to cover up partial, selective accountability that does not touch the entire chain of command that should be examined,” he explained.
Manoeuvre to save the mastermind
Civil society organisation, Imparsial, suspects that the Kabais position transfer is a manoeuvre to save the intellectual actor of the planned murder attempt on Andrie Yunus.
“We are also concerned that this step is a manoeuvre to save the intellectual actor of the case,” said Imparsial Director Ardi Manto Adiputra when confirmed via written message on Thursday (26/3).
Ardi stated that the Kabais resignation would only make legal steps target field perpetrators, while the commander feels free from legal snares.
“The legal process will then only stop at the field perpetrators (executors), while the command structure above is ‘secured’ through position mutation, then it is clear that the intellectual actor behind the attack on Andrie Yunus will never be touched by the law,” he said.
Furthermore, Ardi assessed that this condition further strengthens the notion that military institutions remain a “law-free zone” for elite officials in their institution.
“The impunity practice of the intellectual perpetrator of the attack on Andrie will have a bad impact on the democratic climate in Indonesia more broadly because it involves intelligence elements to carry out direct attacks on human rights and democracy activists,” he said.
DPR urges legal process upwards
Member of Commission I of the DPR from the PDIP Faction, TB Hasanuddin, urges that the legal process for the acid attack case on Andrie Yunus must continue.
According to him, the TNI Military Police Centre (Puspom) must still investigate the party that gave the order for the barbaric attack.
“There must be a legal process and how far that legal process goes to the Kabais,” Hasanuddin said when contacted on Thursday (26/3).
Meanwhile, Deputy Chairman of Commission I of the DPR, Dave Laksono, instead praised the Kabais decision to resign from his position. According to Dave, that attitude shows awareness of the urgency of transparency and public trust in state institutions.
“We invite all parties to respect the ongoing legal process, while maintaining the stability and dignity of state institutions,” Dave said.