Civil Coalition Pushes for TNI Reform, Demands Prosecution of BAIS Head
A civil society coalition argues that the reassignment of the Head of the Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS Head) in the wake of the acid attack on KontraS activist Andrie Yunus is insufficient. The Civil Coalition also urges that the BAIS Head be swiftly prosecuted as a form of accountability.
The Civil Coalition initially assessed that the internal TNI revitalisation agenda presented by TNI Information Centre Head Major General Aulia Dwi Nasrullah lacks clear objectives. The Civil Coalition views the revitalisation agenda, which involves punishing soldiers involved in general criminal acts through military courts, as not providing justice for the victims.
“This revitalisation agenda is actually contrary to the TNI reform agenda in the TNI Law, which mandates the importance of reforming military justice so that military members involved in general criminal acts can be tried in general courts,” the Civil Coalition stated in its press release, as reported by detikNews on Thursday (26/3/2026).
The Civil Coalition asserts that in a rule-of-law state, all citizens must be treated equally before the law, as affirmed by the Constitution. The Civil Coalition believes that the disclosure of the Andrie Yunus case must proceed through general courts, not military courts or ad hoc courts.
“In a rule-of-law state, no citizens or groups may be given special treatment in their trials compared to other citizens. All must submit to general courts if involved in general criminal acts. MPR Decree No. VI and VII of 2000, as well as TNI Law Article 65, clearly state that military members involved in general criminal acts must be tried in general courts,” the Civil Coalition wrote.
They also assess that the revitalisation agenda of removing the BAIS Head is insufficient and does not deliver justice for the victim. The Civil Coalition states that this instead makes the TNI unaccountable and non-transparent.
“TNI soldiers’ accountability can only be seen if the resolution of the crime in the Andrie case is carried out through general courts,” they stated.
“We urge that the change agenda within the TNI (TNI reform) should be directed towards the strategic intelligence reform agenda. So far, BAIS has often abused its authority, such as alleged involvement in the August riots case and the Andrie Yunus case,” they added.
The coalition views the involvement of BAIS in the Andrie Yunus case as unjustifiable under any pretext. Moreover, in a democracy, criticism and differences are essential for democratic life and not a national security threat that needs monitoring or intimidation.
“Therefore, BAIS reform is urgent, namely that the strategic intelligence task is only to address strategic issues from outside the country that threaten the state’s sovereignty, such as potential threats of war with other countries,” the Civil Coalition said.
“BAIS must not and cannot operate domestically by monitoring and supervising civil society, let alone committing violence like in the Andrie case, because that is a form of black intelligence prohibited in a democratic system and rule-of-law state,” they continued.
Here are the 10 demands of the Civil Coalition in resolving the Andrie Yunus case:
Resolve the Andrie case through general courts.
Prosecute the newly removed BAIS Head to hold command accountable.
Civilian authorities must evaluate and hold the Minister of Defence and TNI Commander accountable as defence policymakers, particularly regarding the Andrie Yunus case.
Urge the military to withdraw from civilian positions, such as Colonel Tedy holding the Cabinet Secretary position and other civilian roles.
Civilian authorities or the Constitutional Court must immediately reform military justice so that the military submits to general courts if involved in general criminal acts.
Civilian authorities must promptly return the military to barracks and no longer involve them in domestic operations beyond war, such as guarding civilian objects, demonstrations, and others.
Return the military to its role as a state defence tool, not a regime tool misused to support regime projects like MBG, Merah Putih Cooperative, and others.
Modernise military equipment transparently and accountably, and improve soldiers’ welfare.
Urge civilian authorities to form a TNI reform team to continue, oversee, and complete the unfinished TNI reform agenda to date.
Immediately reform BAIS specifically and intelligence in general.
TNI Explanation
The TNI has carried out the reassignment of the Head of the Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS Head) of the TNI. This was done as a form of TNI accountability following the acid attack case on KontraS activist Andrie Yunus involving TNI BAIS members.
“So we need to state here that, as a form of accountability, today the reassignment of the BAIS Head has been carried out. Thank you,” said TNI Information Centre Head Maj Gen Aulia Dwi Nasrullah to reporters at TNI Headquarters, Cilangkap, East Jakarta, on Wednesday (25/3).
Aulia conveyed that the TNI held a meeting with the Ministry of Defence yesterday. In that meeting, Aulia said the TNI and the Ministry of Defence discussed internal TNI revitalisation.
Additionally, Aulia mentioned that the meeting was in accordance with directives from President Prabowo Subianto. The meeting, he said, concluded that the TNI should take firm action against every soldier who commits violations.
“The Indonesian National Armed Forces reaffirm their commitment by taking firm action against every legal and disciplinary violation committed by TNI soldiers,” Aulia said.