DPR Member Urges Andrie Yunus Case Be Classified as Human Rights Violation
A member of Commission XIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) from the PKB faction, Mafirion, has urged that the case of the acid attack on KontraS activist Andrie Yunus be designated as a human rights violation.
He assessed that the National Human Rights Commission’s (Komnas HAM) slowness in determining that status risks obscuring the essence of the attack, turning it into mere ordinary criminality.
“This incident clearly violates the right to safe living, the right to be free from torture, and the right to self-protection. This is not just criminality, but has entered the category of human rights violations. Komnas HAM must not hesitate to immediately conclude the Andrie Yunus case to ensure the state is present in protecting activists,” Mafirion stated in a written release on Friday (27/3).
He explained that the lack of clarity in Komnas HAM’s stance to date has the potential to weaken human rights-based legal references for law enforcement officials. He emphasised that the brutal action against human rights defenders is a direct attack on fundamental human rights that cannot be viewed as ordinary criminality alone.
“There are strong indications that the actions by rogue officials are related to the victim’s activities in voicing his critical stance on state policies. Therefore, this is clearly not ordinary criminality,” he said.
According to Mafirion, if this case is not concluded soon, it will create a domino effect that harms the victim’s position and obscures the involvement of intellectual actors behind the scenes. He also highlighted the threat of a chilling effect or fear among other humanitarian activists that could paralyse advocacy work in Indonesia.
“We are concerned that if it is not concluded soon, this will create a fear effect among other human rights defenders and hinder advocacy work. Designating it as a human rights violation is not just a label, but a legal and moral basis to ensure comprehensive physical, psychological, and social recovery for the victim,” he stressed.
Furthermore, Mafirion called on Komnas HAM to take proactive and bold steps in uncovering the truth behind the attack. In his view, the firmness of state institutions is very much needed so that public trust in the commitment to human rights enforcement does not decline.
“The state must not lose to violence. The firmness of Komnas HAM is very much needed so that justice is not only enforced but also felt by society. Comprehensive handling must start from the courage to conclude that this is a real human rights violation,” he concluded.
To date, Komnas HAM has only designated Andrie Yunus as a human rights defender. The investigation into the acid attack case involving TNI members is still ongoing.
Many parties are urging that the case be brought to general courts, not military courts.