Facts About the Acid Attack on Andrie Yunus
Deputy Coordinator of the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS), Andrie Yunus, was attacked with corrosive acid by unknown assailants on Thursday evening, 12 March 2026. The attack occurred after Andrie had completed a podcast recording at the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) office.
Andrie was followed by two individuals and attacked with acid. The assault resulted in 24 per cent burns across his body. Prior to the attack, Andrie had been subjected to threats by unknown parties. The government suspects the attack was organised. Police are currently investigating the case.
Attacked with Acid After Recording Podcast on “Remilitarisation and Judicial Review in Indonesia”
Andrie Yunus was attacked with corrosive acid by unknown assailants on Thursday evening, 12 March 2026. KontraS coordinator Dimas Bagus Arya stated that Andrie sustained the injuries after completing a podcast recording titled “Remilitarisation and Judicial Review in Indonesia” at the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) office in Jakarta, which concluded at approximately 23:00 local time.
Severe Burns to 24 Per Cent of Body
Dimas stated that Andrie sustained burns covering 24 per cent of his body. The attack resulted in severe burns across Andrie’s front torso. “Serious injuries occurred across the body, particularly on both hands, face, chest, and eye area,” he said.
Andrie Yunus underwent eye surgery as a result of exposure to the corrosive liquid.
Threatened Before Acid Attack
Andrie Yunus received several calls from unknown numbers before becoming the target of the acid attack. KontraS documented eight numbers that contacted Andrie between 9-11 March 2026. “Several unknown numbers frequently called the victim,” said Dimas Bagus Arya in a written statement on Friday, 13 March 2026.
Three of these numbers belong to unidentified individuals. Five other numbers are suspected to be associated with fraud and online loan schemes.
Two Perpetrators Followed Andrie
Based on investigations by civil society coalitions, Andrie had been followed by unknown individuals recently. “We tracked that for several days Andrie was being observed from his residence, from his accommodation, and from places he visited,” said the Chair of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) Muhamad Isnur during a press conference in Jakarta.
Based on the chronology of events from KontraS, Andrie was riding his motorcycle along Jalan Salemba I in Central Jakarta when two perpetrators approached him in the opposite direction at Talang Bridge, riding a motorcycle believed to be a 2016-2021 Honda Beat automatic scooter.
The suspected perpetrators were two men, with one serving as the driver and the other as a passenger. According to KontraS observations, they had the following characteristics: the first perpetrator, the driver, wore a white-and-blue combination t-shirt, jeans-like trousers, and a black helmet.
The second perpetrator, the rear passenger, wore a black face covering or buff-style mask covering half the face, a dark blue t-shirt, and blue trousers rolled up to appear short and made of jeans material.
One of the perpetrators then sprayed corrosive acid towards Andrie, hitting parts of his body. Andrie cried out in pain and fell from his motorcycle.
Suspected to be Organised
Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Correctional Affairs Yusril Ihza Mahendra suspected the attack on Andrie Yunus was organised. Yusril stated that the pattern of the attack indicated signs of organised planning. Therefore, law enforcement must not stop at the level of the perpetrators on the ground.
“The pattern of the attack appears to be planned and organised, so uncovering this incident must not stop at the level of the executors, but must also uncover the intellectual masterminds behind it,” said Yusril in a written statement in Jakarta on Friday, 13 March 2026.
As a result, Yusril called on law enforcement officials, particularly the Indonesian National Police, to investigate the case thoroughly. Not only to identify the perpetrators and their motives, but also to reveal who was behind the incident.
National Human Rights Commission Launches Investigation
The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) will begin an investigation into the acid attack on Andrie Yunus, Deputy Coordinator of External Affairs of the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS). The investigation will be conducted to gather facts on the ground and obtain comprehensive information regarding the incident.
Komnas HAM Chair Anis Hidayah stated that the institution would ensure the case of violence against the human rights activist does not disappear without resolution. “We will fight for justice for the victim, recovery, and how to prevent similar repressive practices in the future,” said Anis during the launch of an online learning programme on Civil Society and Democracy in Jakarta on Friday evening, 13 March 2026.
Anis also suspected the acid attack on Andrie was carried out deliberately and premeditated. She believed the use of corrosive acid indicated preparation before the attack was executed. “Because when people spray corrosive acid, they must prepare it and so on, especially when it happens in the middle of the night like that,” she said.
Police Pursue Perpetrators
The Central Jakarta Metro Police Resort is investigating the acid attack against Andrie Yunus, Deputy Coordinator of the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS). Police are currently pursuing the perpetrators by conducting analysis of CCTV recordings related to the incident.
“Police are conducting a comprehensive investigation to uncover the perpetrators and the motives behind the incident,” the statement said.