Commission III Member: Acid Attack on KontraS Activist an Alarm for Democracy
Jakarta (ANTARA) – A member of Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives, I Nyoman Parta, has described the acid attack on Komisi untuk Orang Hilang dan Korban Tindak Kekerasan (Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence – KontraS) activist Andrie Yunus as an alarm bell for democracy.
Parta stated that the incident cannot be viewed as a routine criminal act, but must be understood as a serious warning for the protection of human rights defenders and the democratic space in Indonesia.
“An attack on human rights activists is an attack on the fundamental principles of the rule of law. Human rights defenders perform a vital function in maintaining accountability of power and protecting the rights of citizens,” he said in remarks received in Jakarta on Saturday.
As a legislator responsible for law enforcement matters, he emphasised that law enforcement authorities must treat this case as a priority. “The state is obliged to ensure they can work without threats of violence,” he said.
He called for the investigation to be conducted professionally, transparently and accountably, and to uncover the motive and any possible instigators behind the attack that occurred on Thursday night (12 March).
According to him, past experience has shown that violence against activists often raises public questions if the law enforcement process does not proceed openly and thoroughly.
“This case must be investigated to its roots. It is not enough merely to identify the perpetrators on the ground. If there are other parties who are the masterminds, this too must be revealed for the sake of legal certainty and justice,” he said.
He also reminded that Indonesia has a painful history regarding violence against activists and law enforcement officials.
The public, he said, still remembers various cases that have caused collective trauma, such as the murder of human rights activist Munir Said Thalib, the case of worker Marsinah, and the acid attack on former KPK investigator Novel Baswedan.
“History shows that violence against those who fight for justice always has major consequences for public trust. We cannot allow such practices to happen again,” he said.
If cases such as this are not handled seriously, the repercussions could spread. He believed this could have an intimidating effect on civil society, narrow the space for public criticism, and reduce public confidence in law enforcement institutions.
Moreover, Parta stated that such incidents can also affect Indonesia’s reputation as a democracy that respects civil freedoms.
“Indonesia is known as a major democracy in the region. Therefore, protection of human rights defenders must be a real commitment of the state,” he emphasised.
KontraS Deputy Coordinator Andrie Yunus was attacked by unknown assailants who threw acid on him, causing burns to his hands and feet as well as eye damage.
The incident occurred shortly after Andrie completed a podcast recording at the office of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) discussing militarism and a judicial review of the Armed Forces Law.
Based on initial information, at approximately 23:37 WIB, the victim was riding a motorcycle on Jalan Salemba I, Central Jakarta.
Two assailants on a motorcycle then approached the victim and threw acid on him before fleeing.
As a result of the attack, the victim sustained chemical burns to approximately 24 per cent of his body and was immediately taken to hospital for emergency medical treatment, particularly to the eyes that had been exposed to the corrosive liquid.