Commission III of Parliament Monitors Case of Attack on KontraS Activist Andrie Yunus
HABIBUROKHMAN, the head of Commission III of the Indonesian Parliament, has condemned an attack using caustic soda against Andrie Yunus, an activist with the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS). He has reaffirmed his commitment to continuing oversight of the case.
Speaking in Jakarta on Saturday, 14 March, Habib stated that his office had coordinated with the head of Metro Jaya Regional Police and requested that authorities promptly follow up on the case and apprehend the perpetrators.
“We will ensure that Commission III continues to monitor this case so that the investigation progresses swiftly and professionally. We ask that the state fully cover the costs of the best medical treatment so that he can recover quickly,” Habib said.
He added that maximum security for Andrie Yunus is vital to protect the victim from further violence.
Habib emphasised that all forms of violence against citizens must not be tolerated. In his view, differences of opinion should not be answered with violence or thuggery.
“Article 28G of the 1945 Constitution clearly stipulates that every person has the right to personal protection and the right to security and protection from threats of fear to do or refrain from doing something that constitutes a human right,” he stated.
Andrie Yunus, deputy coordinator of KontraS, became a victim of an attack by unknown assailants who sprayed caustic soda at him. As a result, he suffered wounds to his hands, feet, and vision disturbances.
The incident occurred after Andrie finished recording a podcast at the office of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) discussing militarism and constitutional testing of the Armed Forces Law.
According to initial reports, on the evening of Thursday, 12 March at 23:37 Western Indonesian Time, the victim was riding a motorcycle on Jalan Salemba I, Central Jakarta, when two assailants on a motorcycle approached him and sprayed caustic soda before fleeing.
The attack caused Andrie to suffer chemical burns covering approximately 24% of his body and he was immediately taken to hospital for emergency medical treatment, particularly for his eyes which were exposed to the chemical liquid.
Meanwhile, the head of the Police Public Relations Division, Inspector General Johnny Eddizon Isir, assured that the police would handle the case transparently and without discrimination.
“We will be serious and committed to fully clarifying, uncovering, and capturing the perpetrators, whoever they are. Of course, we will proceed within the proper procedures and channels,” Johnny said.